Blue Star Print retains $100 million Telecom directory contract

Blue Star Print Group has again retained New Zealand’s single biggest printing contract - the annual production of six million telephone directories for Telecom Directories Ltd ("TDL").

The contract, worth in excess of $100 million over five years, involves printing 45 local and regional editions every year - a total of 5.75 billion pages - at Blue Star Print Group’s Webstar plant in Masterton.

Blue Star Print Chief Executive Keith Brodie said: "We’re delighted to have retained this contract as we not only have a long-standing relationship with Telecom but can offer the most modern directory printing technology in New Zealand."

"This is New Zealand’s single biggest printing contract and TDL called for tenders internationally. It’s great news for New Zealand that it stays in this country and a tribute to our excellent team at the Masterton plant."

TDL’s General Manager Roger Shipp said Webstar’s leading edge technology was a major factor in the decision to award the contract to Blue Star Print.

"Webstar is the only specific directory printing operation in New Zealand and, from next year, will be producing our telephone directories in full process colour."

The first full colour directory will be the 2002 Auckland edition, with other regions to follow during the year.

Webstar, previously known as GP Directories and Government Print, has been producing telephone directories since 1925, when the first contract with the Post and Telegraph Department was signed. That involved 100 tonnes of paper.

Today, the job requires more than 8,000 metric tonnes of directory paper for the 45 editions, which includes the Cook Islands phone book.

Blue Star Print Group has owned the Webstar business since 1996 and, since then, has invested more than $15 million in a complete re-equipping of the pre-press and printing facilities.

Brodie said the plant has the most modern press of its type in Australasia - a new Goss Universal 70 press purchased in 1998 - which is capable of printing at 700 metres per minute.

"Webstar is led by Noel Rogers and he and his team have worked extensively with Telecom to retain this contract. We have further plans to expand our Webstar business, particularly into Australia, and will be announcing these shortly," said Brodie.

In addition to the telephone directories, Webstar also produces magazines, retail catalogues and mailers.

Blue Star Print’s existing contract with Telecom expires in December 2002 and the new contract is for five years from January 2003, with a further right of renewal.

For further information please contact:
Keith Brodie or Noel Rogers on +64 9 477 0400.

Visit the Webstar website.