The death was announced by Fairfax NZ chief executive Allen Williams “with deep regret and great sadness”.

Efforts to free people trapped in the building had continued overnight, and Williams said the following morning that support including counselling was being mobilised for staff.

"This is a dark day in the history of our company and my thoughts and prayers are with you all,” he told staff.

A 24-page edition of the broadsheet was printed overnight at the new out-of-town print site. Editor Andrew Holden told AAP copies were delivered to “quite a few suburbs, to the surprise of our readers and delight for some”.

Several people were trapped on the third floor of the historic building in Cathedral Square, and emergency services worked through the night to rescue them.

The print site, including a new Goss Uniliner press commissioned in 2009, was not damaged.