Rain, hills, helpful parents and the occasional four-legged encounter are all part of the job for three young newspaper deliverers who have been recognised for going the extra mile in their local communities.
Dougal Kwant, who has delivered the Waimea Weekly since 2022, tackles a challenging 175-paper route with his dad, Dave. The pair recently added another 15 addresses so a street that had previously missed out now receives the paper.
Dave handles the sides and steep sections of the hilly run, while Dougal ensures each paper reaches its destination. The route has produced memorable moments, from being chased by a friendly dog that jumped a fence to receiving ice cream from a local resident.
“That was always the best part of the trip,” Dougal says. He saves much of his delivery income, and the round has been a family effort from the start, with his grandmother, Joan Smith, initially helping to prepare the papers.
Lilly-Rose Porter has become a reliable part of the Victory community since taking over a difficult-to-fill Nelson Weekly round in June 2025.
Alongside her mum, Nyssa, Lilly-Rose delivers 235 papers each week across Victory, Waimea Rd, Kawai, Franklyn St and Hampden St. The round had previously been difficult to fill, with missed deliveries leading to regular calls from readers. Since Lilly-Rose took over, there have been no missed-delivery complaints.
The pair usually deliver at night, sometimes with help from Lilly-Rose’s sister on the easier sections and music playing along the route. A friendly rottweiler puppy has also become a welcome sight during their evening rounds. Lilly-Rose, a racecar driver, saves her earnings for petrol.
Samuel Perriam has been delivering the Motueka Guardian around the township since 2023, covering streets including Poole St, High St, Pah St and surrounding areas.
During that time, he has built a reputation for being a reliable deliverer, ensuring 280 newspapers reach local letterboxes each week.
While Samuel’s route is usually quiet, there have been a few memorable encounters along the way, including a horse in a paddock and one or two familiar faces he regularly sees while out delivering.
His family also helps keep the papers moving. Dad Iain assists with folding the newspapers, while mum steps in to cover the route if Samuel is unwell.
Samuel has been putting his delivery earnings aside to help fund a trip to Australia in November 2026.
Dougal, Lilly-Rose and Samuel have been named the Waimea Weekly, Nelson Weekly and Motueka Guardian Deliverers of the Month respectively. Each receives two passes to Silky Otter Cinema in recognition of their consistent service and willingness to go the extra mile for their communities.
