Wanaka-based media organisations are committed to reporting and distributing news, despite unprecedented restrictions on civil liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a nationwide lock down on the freedom of movement and association now in place from today (Thursday), local reporters are abiding by the government restrictions although they are classified as “essential services” and can go out to do their job.

The pandemic has forced all news organisations to review their methods of sourcing, publishing, distributing and funding their information and content.

Wanaka App reporters stopped holding physical face-to-face meetings on March 16. They have been interviewing people using phones, Skype and emails to prepare stories published daily to the mobile app and new online platform.

"There has been a surge in readership due to the pandemic and we've had to purchase additional server capacity to handle the load. We’re keeping our staff safe with all interviews now via phone or video. They’re doing an amazing job keeping our community informed at a difficult time," Wanaka App owner Tony O’Regan said.

The new Wanaka Sun editor Pat Deavoll is working in self isolation from her home at Lake Hawea. “Living through the Christchurch earthquake, I thought the world would never get back to normal. But it does,’’ she said.

Pat said the Wanaka Sun was “well set up to chug along’’, even though she and her two part time reporters were in isolation. “We all work from home anyway so we didn’t have an office and we were not rubbing shoulders with each other.”

Mike Regal of Radio Wanaka said the station would continue with business as usual. 

Broadcast is also an essential service during alert level 4. Staff would be retained on full pay but would work reduced hours, he said.

Mike said times would be tough for everyone and he was committed to keeping the radio station going for the community.

The 159-year-old Otago Daily Times, which has offices in Wanaka, Alexandra and Queenstown, published a front page editorial on Tuesday outlining its ongoing commitment to delivering the news.

The Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart told the Wanaka App the newspapers will be home delivered as usual, and papers will be available in supermarkets and petroleum stations. He said these are challenging times, but they bring “everyone's focus back to their communities”.

The Upper Clutha Messenger’s owner Paul Miller oversaw the final print run of The Messenger this week.

“There won’t be any hard copies of the Messenger until the restrictions are lifted,’’ Paul said.

The Messenger staff were working from home and the publication would stick to the same deadlines and publish online. 

Nationally, the spread of Covid-19 has generated huge interest in the news, putting pressure on an industry that has progressively laid off journalists and culled titles as a response to the rise of global social media and the diversion of New Zealand’s advertising income to off-shore companies such as Google and Facebook.

“The media industry is not immune to the economic pain but this is a time when the community needs news and information. I know we are all doing whatever it takes to ensure stories get told and information flows,” said Tony at the Wanaka App. “Great things come out of adversity and we are looking at all funding options to ensure a long term sustainable future.”