A new public media entity has been created by the New Zealand Government to ensure that Kiwis continue to have access to reliable, trusted, independent information and local content. 

“The public media sector is extremely important to New Zealanders in providing them with high quality, independent, timely and relevant media content,” Minister for Broadcasting and Media Kris Faafoi said. 

“But we know the media landscape is changing and the sector is having to adapt to increased competition, changing audience demands and ways of accessing media, falling revenue, and new and emerging digital platforms. We need public media which is responsive to these changes and can flourish.” 

Minister Faafoi stated that while RNZ and TVNZ are trying to adjust to the challenges, the country’s current public media system and its legislation are too focused on radio and television. 

“This is why the Government will create a new organisation by the middle of next year, built on the best of RNZ and TVNZ, to future-proof public media for New Zealanders for decades to come,” he said. 

“Whether it be COVID, national emergencies, or Olympic Games, the last few years have shown how important a strong media environment is to reflect New Zealanders’ stories, dreams and aspirations and it is important we support public media to flourish.” 

New Zealanders are among some of the most adaptive audiences when it comes to accessing content in different ways.

As such, Minister Faafoi stated that they should ensure that public media can adapt to those audience changes, as well as other future challenges.

The new public media entity will be built on the best of both RNZ and TVNZ, which will initially become subsidiaries of the new organisation.

It will also provide what existing audiences value, such as RNZ Concert, as well as better reach those groups who aren’t currently well served such as the country’s various ethnic communities and cultures.

The NZ Government’s funding decisions will be made as part of Budget processes, and the entity will be an Autonomous Crown Entity with complete editorial independence receiving commercial and Crown funding for operations.

The new public media entity will do the following: 

• provide quality public media content to all New Zealanders, including groups who are currently under-served or under-represented 
• use a range of platforms, including current radio and linear TV and those of third parties, to reach audiences when, where and how audiences choose 
• operate under a charter, set out in legislation, and provide trustworthy news as a core service 
• deliver on the Crown’s Te Tiriti obligations and provide Māori stories and perspectives 
• carry advertising, while ensuring services that are currently commercial-free will remain so 
• collaborate with and support the wider New Zealand media sector where appropriate. 

An Establishment Board will be appointed next month to oversee the detailed design of the entity and the change process, with the aim of having it operational by 1 July 2023. 

“We know what we want this new entity to achieve, and a legislated charter will set out the entity’s purpose and objectives,” Minister Faafoi said. 

The public will have a chance to give their views, including on the entity’s charter, through the select committee process when legislation is considered later this year. 

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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