About us

The Star is an independent newspaper with a strong focus on local community news. We publish once a month, excluding January, so that’s 11 issues a year.

The original Martinborough Star was first published in the 1880’s. Not much is known about the paper at this time.

In the early 1900s The Star was run by a Mr Nichol publishing three times a week until he sold it to a Fredrick Michel in 1925. His son Charles Michel inherited the Star but sold out in 1946 to other Wairarapa papers.

The Star ceased publishing but the local news was covered by Martinborough segments in Wairarapa Weekly News and the Wairarapa Times Age. The times Age eventually owned both and 2007 the Martinborough segment was cancelled.

It was at that time that Mike Beckett, the founder of the Featherston Chronical who had sold his paper and shifted to live in Martinborough, contacted David Kershaw about the lack of local news.

The deal was; Mike would write all the editorial and David would find the advertising and they would revive the Martinborough Star.

It worked, with the help of Jasmin Clarkson who brought the paper to life through design and created the first Star website.

Jasmin eventually decided to move on and Dustyandlulu took over design, and refreshed the look and feel of the paper as well as the website. This website would not have happened without the generous support of  Susan and Ashley Mudford, we are very grateful.

Sadly Mike Beckett passed away but luckily Ray Lilley took over as editor. We acknowledge founding editor Mike Beckett for all his contribution to the Star.  

The Star is still going strong thanks to the Star team, volunteers who deliver the papers, all the supportive advertisers, contributers and interesting editorial content.

Advertise
with us

We’re a local paper that celebrates local news and local businesses. Advertising with the Star means you get lasting impact with each issue being in circulation for up to one month. The paper is delivered to community letterboxes as well as available from key places around town where they are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.

Deadlines

The deadline is 4pm on the last Wedenesday of each month. Please note copy can not be accepted after the deadline.

Advertising Bookings

Please book your ad with David Kershaw 021 625 327 or david@pandk.co.nz.

Newspaper Advertising Rates and Specifications

The Star has the following advertising sizes available based on these standard sizes.

Please double check measurements of your ads and make sure you have the correct format, height x width. We can not accept any other format.

Please supply your ad copy or print ready ads to Mike and Lindie dustys@dustysandlulu.com.

Advertising
rates and sizes

Design rates

We are happy to help with any design requirements. A one off flat rate of $65 is charged for the design of full page, half page and full column ads. A one off flat rate of $40 is charged for the design of all other ads.

If you would like to make changes to an existing ad we have designed for you then a one off flat rate of $20 for that issue is charged.

Digital Advertising 

To advertise with us digitally please contact David on 021 625 327 or david@pandk.co.nz to discuss your options. 

Printer information

Please supply print ready artwork as high resolution 300dpi pdf.

Please make sure the colour mode of the file is cmyk. This includes all photos and logos.

Please supply with no bleed or crop marks.

When supplying files for The Star to design or revise your ad please supply high resolution logo and photos and supply copy in an editable format like word.

Advertising Position

We take requets for preferred postions in the paper and do our best to comply. These requests are all subject to availability.

Discounts

We offer a discount to clubs, church and volunteer groups. Discounts are also available for bookings of extended periods of time. Please chat to David david@pandk.co.nz to discuss options.

Cancellation Fees

A cancellation fee of up to 100% of the advertisement cost applies to any advertisements cancelled after the booking deadline has passed.

Contacts