Trans Tasman newsletter publisher faces liquidation

Trans Tasman 'political insider' newsletter publisher faces liquidation

By Paul McBeth

Nov. 22 (BusinessDesk) - The Main Report Group of companies, which publishes the long-running Trans Tasman 'political insider' newsletter, is facing liquidation and owner Max Bowden has until next week to come up with a plan to satisfy its creditor.

Inland Revenue has applied to liquidate Christchurch-based Media Information, Trans Tasman Media and The Main Report, which will be heard in the High Court in Christchurch on Nov. 30, according to the government's Gazette notices. The Main Report publishes a series of weekly industry-specific newsletters, including the Trans Tasman political newsletter, which has been running since 1968, penned in part by the longest-serving member of the Parliamentary press gallery, Ian Templeton.

"We just doing some reorganisation right now," said Bowden, who declined to comment further ahead of next week's hearing.

Like other industry-specific publishers, the Main Report's newsletters have operated on a subscription model largely eschewed by New Zealand's mainstream media outlets. An annual subscription for the flagship Trans Tasman newsletter is $575, although the website is currently advertising a special at $329.

(BusinessDesk)

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