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Company History

 

The oldest brand in the Ovato group, Gordon & Gotch was formed in 1853 when Alexander Gordon, a 63-year-old Scotsman gave 24-year-old Englishman John Gotch a job selling newspapers and drumming up advertisements. Gotch had previously sailed from America to Australia on board the clipper Peytona.
Gordon offered Gotch a partnership if he could sell as many newspapers in the goldfields as he sold from his market shack under which they both slept at night.
The newly formed newspaper-delivery business flourished and they soon became partners as Gordon & Gotch with offices established in Sydney, London and Brisbane as the business expanded before the end of the 19th century.
It was not until Gotch was nearing the end of his life in 1899 it was decided to extend the company's activities to New Zealand. To this end the business of Herbert Baillie & Company in Wellington was acquired. In New Zealand, the business of the Wellington House had flourished from its inception and in view of the distances to be covered it soon became necessary to open additional branches. These were established in 1902 in Christchurch and in Auckland and Dunedin in 1904. Eventually Gordon & Gotch were split up and each country's division (Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada) were sold off.
Gordon & Gotch in New Zealand continued to operate as a monopoly until 1989 when a company called "Network" was established. Gordon & Gotch purchased Network in 1996. In 2003, News Corp sold all its newspaper interests and Gordon & Gotch to an Australian newspaper company John Fairfax Limited who in turn sold Gordon & Gotch to the PMP Group (a publicly listed integrated media services company).
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From February 7th 2019 PMP and all its subsidiary companies have been rebranded as Ovato. The Gordon & Gotch name has now transitioned to a division name of:
Ovato , Retail Distribution NZ.
Today Ovato , Retail Distribution NZ, distribute over 2000 magazines to more than 3000 retail customers. Ovato distribute leading NZ and imported magazine titles from the USA, UK, Australia and Asia and is the only full service magazine retail distribution company in New Zealand.

The oldest brand in the Are Media group, Are Direct NZ Limited (formerly known as Gordon & Gotch) was formed in 1853 when Alexander Gordon, a 63-year-old Scotsman gave 24-year-old Englishman John Gotch a job selling newspapers and drumming up advertisements. Gotch had previously sailed from America to Australia on board the clipper Peytona.

 

Gordon offered Gotch a partnership if he could sell as many newspapers in the goldfields as he sold from his market shack under which they both slept at night.

 

The newly formed newspaper-delivery business flourished, and they soon became partners as Gordon & Gotch with offices established in Sydney, London and Brisbane as the business expanded before the end of the 19th century. It was not until Gotch was nearing the end of his life in 1899 it was decided to extend the company's activities to New Zealand. To this end the business of Herbert Baillie & Company in Wellington was acquired. In New Zealand, the business of the Wellington House had flourished from its inception and in view of the distances to be covered it soon became necessary to open additional branches. These were established in 1902 in Christchurch and in Auckland and Dunedin in 1904. Eventually Gordon & Gotch were split up and each country's division (Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Canada) were sold off.

 

Gordon & Gotch in New Zealand continued to operate as a monopoly until 1989 when a company called "Network" was established. Gordon & Gotch purchased Network in 1996. In 2003, News Corp sold all its newspaper interests and Gordon & Gotch to an Australian newspaper company John Fairfax Limited who in turn sold Gordon & Gotch to the PMP Group (a publicly listed integrated media services company). From 7 February 2019 PMP and all its subsidiary companies have been rebranded as Ovato. The Gordon & Gotch name was changed to Ovato Retail Distribution.

 

On 1 November 2021, Ovato Retail Distribution was sold to Are Media. Are Media have renamed Ovato Retail Distribution to Are Direct NZ Limited.

 

Today Are Direct NZ Limited, distribute over 2000 magazines to more than 3000 retail customers. Are Direct NZ Limited distribute leading NZ and imported magazine titles from the USA, UK, Australia and Asia and is the only full-service magazine retail distribution company in New Zealand.