1859: The Christchurch Press

May 25, 2023

By AHNZ

Today in history, 25 May, 1859, the first ever edition of the Christchurch Press newspaper.

First Lyttleton Times editor, James FitzGerald, had come back to the colony from England to find his old paper had been captured by undesirables. So, he started up his own today in a small cottage: The Press.

That’s more competition in the media market 162 years ago than we have today.

Editor Crosbie Ward vs Editor Fitz battled it out for being the voice of Canterbury. By 1861 Canterbury also had its own satirical newspaper, Canterbury Punch, which published this cartoon lampooning the two dueling editors…

Both Ward and Fitz went on to become Cabinent Ministers of Central Government too, such was the power of being a media mogul back in the good old days.

“The Press is this week published under the masthead Te Matatika, reflecting our history and show- ing our support for Ma ori Lan- guage Week. Te Matatika means to be honest, fair, impartial and unbiased. These are attributes our newsroom strives for and are re- flected in our Latin motto Nihil utile quod non honestum meaning “Nothing is useful that is not honest”.” – Our New Masthead, Press (11 September 2018)

“On this day, 25 May 1861, ‘The Press’ went to press for the first time. Their first words were: “We shall make no apology for the publication of a new newspaper. We are under the impression such a paper is wanted. If we shall be so fortunate as to command a remunerative circulation the result will justify our opinion. If not, failure will sufficiently punish our presumption. But whatever the issue to the proprietors, the public will have been the gainers.” ‘The Press’ is now the oldest surviving newspaper in the South Island.” – Canterbury Museum, Facebook (2023)

Until the 2020s The Press had a very British masthead with lion and unicorn. Also, the Latin motto that resolved as ‘Nothing is useful that is not honest. This they have abandoned.

In Aotearoa New Zealand culture the new Press brand is ‘Te Matatika’ which has the dubious translation of honesty and impartiality. No such concept existed in Maori epistemology of course. Their ethic was ‘my tribe right or wrong’ and the idea of abstract principles of impartiality to some higher mankind was absolutely alien. Press has abandoned their heritage masthead in exchange for a basic white-on-blue (image left) with the contrived Maori cathphrase alongside.

The Press started out with such a virtuous attitude…

“…the result will justify our opinion. If not, failure will sufficiently punish our presumption.”

Fast-forward to today and Stuff would be broke if they didn’t dig into taxpayer pockets for funding via ‘NZ on Air’ and the ‘Public Interest Journalism Fund’ to the tune of many millions.
Sure’n their government cash bonuses have nothing to do with their editorial policy though. Right?

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Image ref. The Press, recipient of Government subsidy money, informed Kiwis in 2020 that ‘Kiwis’ back harsh Covid Panic measures being taken against them. The measures included taxing Kiwis and giving millions to….The Press. Sounds legit. Ref. 1951: Lock Out vs Lock Down, AHNZ

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