Star (Christchurch)

The Star began publication as the evening edition of the Lyttelton Times on 14 May 1868.

The Star established itself as a reliable but unremarkable newspaper. Probably the most noteworthy thing the Star did in its early years was to bring out a Saturday night sports edition which immediately became popular. Things livened up for the Star in 1914 with the publication of a rival evening paper, the Sun. The Sun was a new type of newspaper in New Zealand. Modelled on the London Daily Mail it had a bright layout, heavy use of illustrations and an independent attitude. It was immediately popular with the public. Christchurch was now overburdened with newspapers - there were three evening, two morning and two weekly newspapers.

The first casualty was the Evening News which ceased in 1917. The depression brought further need for rationalisation and competition intensified. In November 1934 the Star dropped its price from 2d to 1d. The other dailies in Christchurch soon followed. As a result there was demand for Christchurch papers outside Canterbury and eventually most South Island papers reduced their price. The price cutting proved unsustainable and, in June 1935, the Christchurch morning papers agreed to raise the price back to 2d. However the struggle continued between the Sun and the Star. The conflict was settled with help from the Newspaper Proprieters Association. New Zealand Newspapers Ltd, the owners of the Star and the Lyttelton Times (now called the Christchurch Times), purchased the Sun and agreed to cease publication of the Times. The Press Co. purchased the goodwill of the Times. In June 1935 the Sun was incorporated into the Star and became a new newspaper called the Christchurch Star-Sun. In the same month the Christchurch Times ceased, leaving Christchurch with one morning paper, the Press and one evening paper, the Star-Sun.

The Star-Sun changed title several times and was called the Christchurch Star when it ceased daily publication in 1991. The Star continues to be published as a bi-weekly community newspaper.