The Weekend Sun will not be printed for the next four weeks.

Management advises that an extensive, free news service will continue to be provided online at: www.sunlive.co.nz with a boosted team of reporters to keep readers updated.

Although news is listed as an essential activity the decision not to publish a physical paper during the lock-down was driven by the need to keep deliverers and the wider community safe.

Sun Media director Claire Rogers says the company was looking forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Weekend Sun newspaper in August.

'Due to the current situation - and not wanting to be seen to be contacting businesses for advertising during these difficult times - we feel it is best for all concerned to put a freeze on publishing The Weekend Sun from next week.

'We do not feel it is right putting people at risk in our community in order to produce and distribute our publication.

'I repeat this is a freeze only. We will be back once we assess the situation. We have a role to play in our community.”

It is the first time in the paper's history that it has ceased publication and staff are looking forward to getting back to business in the near future.