[2] In 1877, the Evening Mail was caught up in a criminal libel trial after Jones published an article accusing the Attorney-General Frederick Whitaker of promoting a Native Land Bill to assist in the acquisition of 2000,000 acres of confiscated Māori land for himself and his friends.
Jones became a successful politician and his family maintained control of the Mail and the Invercargill–based Southland News.
[6] In mid-August 2015, Allied Press' editor in chief of community newspapers Barry Stewart confirmed that the paper would be undergoing a restructuring process.
[citation needed] Reporters include Kayla Hodge, Ruby Heyward and Ashley Smyth.
The newspaper's sales manager is Mark Julius with other advertising consultants including Steve Wicks and Sue Fraser.