The New Zealand Herald is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment. It has the largest newspaper circulation of all newspapers in New Zealand, peaking at over 200,000 copies in 2006, although circulation of the daily "Herald" had declined to 144,157 copies on average by December 2014. Its main circulation area is the Auckland region. It is also delivered to much of the north of the North Island including Northland, Waikato and King Country. 

"The New Zealand Herald" was founded by William Chisholm Wilson, and first published on 13 November 1863. Wilson had been a partner with John Williamson in the "New Zealander", but left to start a rival daily newspaper as he saw a business opportunity with Auckland’s rapidly growing population. He had also split with Williamson because Wilson supported the war against the Māori (which the "Herald" termed "the native rebellion") while Williamson opposed it. The "Herald" also promoted a more constructive relationship between the North and South Islands. 

After the "New Zealander" closed in 1866 "The Daily Southern Cross" provided competition, particularly after Julius Vogel took a majority shareholding in 1868. "The Daily Southern Cross" was first published in 1843 by William Brown as "The Southern Cross" and had been a daily since 1862. Vogel sold out of the paper in 1873 and Alfred Horton bought it in 1876.
How many copies did it sell at it's peak of popularity?
200,000