The first edition of
The Nelson Evening Mail was published on 5 March 1866. The owner was the printer Robert Lucas. and
The Colonist was bought by
The Nelson Evening Mail in 1920 and its last edition was published on 1 May of that year. The Lucas family sold the newspaper to
Independent Newspapers (INL) in 1993. From 31 July 2017, the publishing schedule was cut back to Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. As of 2025, the Saturday newspaper being published is Stuff's sister-publication
The Press. == Awards and nominations ==