The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle

The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle (also known as The Nelson [Daily] Examiner, was the first newspaper published in New Zealand's South Island. It was launched in 1842 by Charles Elliott (1811–1876), a few weeks after New Zealand Company settlers arrived in Nelson. In its early years the newspaper was criticised for its supposed lack of independence and for being merely a mouthpiece for the New Zealand Company.[1]

Brothers Charles and James Elliott came to Nelson on one of the first four immigrant ships, the Mary Jane, which arrived in Nelson Harbour on 10 February 1842.[2] They brought a printing press with them and the first edition was published on 12 March 1842.[3][4]

The paper began as a weekly, was published twice weekly from July 1854,[5] and went daily in July 1873.[6] The newspaper folded in the face of competition in 1874.[7]

Digital copies of all issues are available online via the National Library of New Zealand.[7]

  1. ^ The Australian, 28 June 1845, p.4 [1]
  2. ^ "List of ships which have entered Nelson Haven". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. I, no. 1. 12 March 1842. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Sudden death of Mr. Chas. Elliott". Nelson Evening Mail. Vol. XI, no. 166. 5 July 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  4. ^ Pears, Maddy. "Early newspapers in Nelson". The Prow. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. ^ Editorial leader, p 4 (and see also reader's letter on page 6) The Nelson Daily Examiner 24 June 1854, at Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand
  6. ^ Editorial:To Our Readers, The Nelson Daily Examiner 2 July 1873, at Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand
  7. ^ a b "The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle". Papers Past. Retrieved 12 January 2020.