SunMedia
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Claire Rogers, Brian Rogers |
| Fate | Acquired by New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) in 2024 |
| Headquarters | Tauranga , New Zealand |
Area served | Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
Key people | Claire Rogers (leader after 2022) |
| Products | SunLive website, Rotorua Now website, The Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News, New Farm Dairies, Waterline magazine, MySpace magazine |
Number of employees | 28 (2024) |
| Parent | New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) |
SunMedia is a media enterprise based in Tauranga, established in 2000 by Claire and Brian Rogers. In 2024, New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) acquired the company. SunMedia's holdings encompass the SunLive website, the newspapers The Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News, and New Farm Dairies, along with the magazines Waterline and MySpace.
History
SunMedia was founded by Claire and Brian Rogers, focusing its operations mainly within the Bay of Plenty area. Following Brian Rogers' passing in 2022, Claire maintained leadership of the business.
On 5 March 2024, NZME completed the acquisition of SunMedia and its associated properties, extending conditional job offers to all 28 employees, including 17 who held permanent or fixed-term contracts. This acquisition aimed to enhance local journalism and advertising efforts in Tauranga. Michael Boggs, CEO of NZME, highlighted that the transaction aligned with the company’s objective to support local communities through specialized publishing and digital news platforms.
Between 2008 and the time of acquisition, SunMedia was based at Tauranga’s historic Bond Store, a Category 1 heritage building constructed in 1883. After joining NZME, operations were relocated to their Cameron Road offices. Furthermore, SunMedia contributed its newspaper archives to the Tauranga City Library.
Assets and organisation
As of June 2024, SunMedia's portfolio consists of the websites SunLive and Rotorua Now; the newspapers The Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News, and New Farm Dairies; as well as the magazines Waterline and MySpace. The company employed a total of 28 staff members by March 2024, with 17 engaged under permanent or fixed-term agreements.
The Weekend Sun is distributed free on weekends, while Coast & Country News caters to rural audiences such as farmers, orchardists, suppliers, and contractors. The publication New Farm Dairies provides guidance specifically for new dairy farmers on construction matters. The magazine Waterline targets enthusiasts of watersports and boating activities, whereas MySpace is a complimentary publication designed for builders and renovators.