The Herald also obtained a letter to the board signed by NZC senior leaders in November, backing Weenink, a month before he was effectively ousted.<\/p>\n
NZ Cricket chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
A NZ Cricket board paper was also leaked,<\/a> highlighting potential sponsorship and rights holders\u2019 sensitivities if Black Caps matches in January were disrupted by a new domestic T20 competition.<\/p>\n Those leaks are understood to have irked NZ Cricket chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon and members of her board and have formed part of the forensic investigation.<\/p>\n NZ Cricket would not comment on the investigation, what it might have found to date, or the costs. <\/p>\n The Herald sent a list of questions about the investigation and any updates on outcomes from the staff survey to Puketapu-Lyndon through NZ Cricket spokesman Richard Boock. <\/p>\n Boock came back saying: \u201cNeither of your … questions involved matters we intended to discuss in public.\u201d<\/p>\n McKenzie describes himself online as a forensic technology expert and cybersecurity consultant. He set up his own forensic and cybersecurity business in 2019, after 12 years at PwC where he led the \u201cforensic technology\u201d practice and the Auckland \u201ccyber security\u201d practice.<\/p>\n Before that, he was with the police for almost five years, as a founding member of the police electronic crime laboratory.<\/p>\n Sponsors and rights holders raise concerns<\/p>\n The Herald can also reveal more leaked information today – that NZ Cricket has been having to carefully handle a number of figurative bouncers in the form of some tetchy and frustrated sponsors and rights holders in recent months.<\/p>\n Several were understood to be concerned about the impact on their brands and businesses as NZ Cricket considered options for a new T20 domestic competition.<\/p>\n The sponsors and rights holders were understood to have been concerned about the impact that the proposed NZ20 competition would have on the Black Caps\u2019 schedule, with the possibility that some international matches might be pushed out of the important January window, or cancelled altogether.<\/p>\n That would obviously impact their own visibility as Black Caps sponsors – or, for the broadcast rights holders, their television coverage and audiences.<\/p>\n NZ Cricket and the organisers of the new NZ20 competition this week announced that it would be delayed a year<\/a>, easing – for now at least – the sponsors\u2019 and rights holders\u2019 concerns.<\/p>\n NZ Cricket said in a statement to the Herald that it had been in \u201cregular and transparent engagement\u201d with its sponsors and rights holders, although this assertion was not wholly supported by sources outside of the organisation.<\/p>\n Some sponsors are understood to have been unhappy about communication with the sports body early on. \u201cThe worst thing about it all is that [the sponsors] were reading about everything that was going on through the Herald.”<\/p>\n While there had been frustration and anger, NZ Cricket had calmed the waters since.<\/p>\n NZ Cricket has called in another law firm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, to help it manoeuvre carefully through discussions and considerations.<\/p>\n Television rights holders Sky TV and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) \u2013 which paid lucrative sums to beam the Black Caps and White Ferns matches into India for the next seven years \u2013 as well as sponsors ANZ and Asahi, are all understood to have stated forthright views to NZ Cricket.<\/p>\n Sony is understood to have been firm that the Black Caps needed to be the priority. Otherwise, as one source said, the broadcaster could have a case to renegotiate its rights deal or seek compensation.<\/p>\n In a statement, Boock – answering Herald questions that were directed to Puketapu-Lyndon – said NZC had maintained \u201cregular and transparent engagement\u201d with its commercial partners and rights holders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been proactively engaging with key stakeholders, providing updates as the work has progressed and providing partners with the opportunity to raise questions and seek clarity.<\/p>\n \u201cThat feedback has been an important part of the process.<\/p>\n \u201cAs part of its due diligence, NZC has undertaken a comprehensive review of its commercial ecosystem, including existing contractual arrangements and the potential implications of NZ20.<\/p>\n \u201cExternal legal support, including from MinterEllisonRudkinWatts, has been part of that process to ensure we\u2019re appropriately considering our obligations, and the interests of our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n Boock said that at all times, \u201cour approach has been to provide partners with as much clarity as possible based on what is known, and to ensure any future decisions support the long-term strength of the game and its commercial relationships\u201d.<\/p>\n Sponsors\u2019 straight bats<\/p>\n NZ Cricket partners have played a straight bat this week to Herald inquiries.<\/p>\n Sky TV chief corporate affairs officer Chris Major said Sky supported NZ Cricket\u2019s \u201cright to make decisions about their domestic competitions, including looking at new models and revenue streams\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be aware that our new partnership is for international (Black Caps and White Ferns) matches, and never included domestic cricket \u2013 so we\u2019re totally comfortable with NZC making their own choices on domestic rights.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the event that a domestic competition impacts international matches that we have bought the rights for, then of course we would have a conversation with NZC about the impact on those rights. That\u2019s a normal commercial discussion between partners.\u201d<\/p>\n SPNI did not respond to the Herald\u2019s email inquiries.<\/p>\n ANZ said it was \u201cdeeply invested\u201d in cricket\u2019s long-term future.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have naturally engaged in discussions with New Zealand Cricket to understand the potential implications of NZ20 on the cricket landscape,\u201d said spokesman David Rowe.<\/p>\n \u201cWe share a mutual objective that the NZ20 evolution will deliver positive outcomes for communities, fans and players as well as for commercial partners. As a long-time partner, ANZ would expect to be consulted throughout.\u201d<\/p>\n Asahi\u2019s Reid Sexton came back with a statement that did not address the Herald\u2019s questions. He said Asahi was a proud supporter of NZ Cricket, enjoyed a strong relationship with the organisation and looked forward to \u201csupporting the game for many summers to come\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, NZ20 organisers now have more time to overcome one of their biggest challenges – securing investment from international and local parties to launch the new competition.<\/p>\n NZ20 establishment committee chairman Don Mackinnon indicated \u201cstrong progress\u201d on that front this week.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, we are determined to ensure NZ20 launches without compromise and is set up for long-term success from day one,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is also critical that the competition sits alongside, not against, international cricket. With the international schedule now confirmed, the available window for 2027 is simply too tight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018We stuffed up\u2019<\/p>\n A small South Island newspaper has learned the hard way that you cannot trust AI. It\u2019s stuffed up, and fronted up.<\/p>\n The Westport News has apologised after publishing fabricated and inaccurate quotes on its front page, and attributing them to two government ministers.<\/p>\n The quotes, attributed to Chris Bishop and James Meager, were used into a story about the Government\u2019s plans to transfer 20 homes in Westport – delivered after flooding in 2021 – into local ownership.<\/p>\n Near deadline, a journalist did a quick internet search and cut and pasted the quotes from an AI response. The AI response and quotes were wrong.<\/p>\n The fabricated AI quotes that were published were:<\/p>\n Housing Minister Chris Bishop said in a statement the deal would help secure long-term housing for Westport.<\/p>\n \u201cThis agreement means these homes will stay in Westport and continue providing warm, dry housing for local people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Minister for the South Island James Meager said the homes had originally been brought in as temporary accommodation after the floods but had become an important part of the district\u2019s housing stock.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Government is pleased to work with BDC to ensure these homes remain available for the community into the future,\u201d Mr Meager said.<\/p>\n \u201cBasically, we stuffed up, we apologised and corrected it immediately,\u201d Westport News acting editor Ellen Curnow told Media Insider.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a simple case of human error. The journalist was under deadline pressure. We used a web-based AI search and it provided an AI-generated summary which we mistook for the ministers\u2019 comments, and published.\u201d<\/p>\n Curnow said officials had been understanding.<\/p>\n \u201cWe published an apology on the front page the very next day and the ministers\u2019 actual release in full [on page 3]. They were grateful for the way that we provided a prompt apology and correction.\u201d<\/p>\n She said it was \u201ca learning experience\u201d and \u201ca scary experience\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis technology is changing every day; when you look at an AI search engine, it has a little warning on it which says ChatGPT can get it wrong … and yes, it can. <\/p>\n \u201cIn the future, we will always go to the direct source regardless of deadline pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n RNZ financial performance in the spotlight<\/p>\n RNZ\u2019s financial performance in its 2025\/26 year had been \u201cmixed\u201d, officials told Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith, in a document released to the Herald under the Official Information Act.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the six months to 31 December, 2025, RNZ recorded a $0.2 million deficit, which is $3.6 million favourable to budget due to income from the Titahi Bay land sale,\u201d according to the aide memoire, ahead of a meeting between Goldsmith and RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson and chairman Jim Mather in February.<\/p>\n \u201cRNZ reiterated that a deficit was forecast for 2025-26 as it required a runway to implement the $4.6 million reduction in baseline funding from Budget 2025. <\/p>\n \u201cRNZ has identified $6.4 million in savings, some of which are on-going, some of which are one-offs and some of which are a combination of both.\u201d<\/p>\n The aide memoire said RNZ was confident it was \u201con track\u201d to operate under budget in 2026-27.<\/p>\n \u201cWe suggest you ask RNZ if there are any further opportunities to reduce overheads and operate more efficiently in 2026-27 to ensure future financial sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n RNZ and public broadcasting supporters are likely to be waiting nervously for the Budget on May 28, with the likelihood of further funding cuts on the table for many Government agencies.<\/p>\n The February meeting between Goldsmith and RNZ was followed up by a pointed letter of expectation from the minister to Mather in March.<\/a><\/p>\n Mather told Media Insider last month that it was his board\u2019s duty to \u201censure the investment in RNZ is managed in a prudent manner to achieve maximum value for the public\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI can assure you that RNZ\u2019s public funding is treated seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that in the current financial year, RNZ was absorbing a 7% funding cut and had reduced expenditure accordingly. <\/p>\n \u201cRNZ has reduced discretionary ($2.5m), marketing ($0.4m) and commissioning spend ($1.5m), reduced capital expenditure with new initiatives to be funded through internal change ($2m) and removed proposed healthcare benefit and performance-based payments ($1m).<\/p>\n \u201cRNZ has focused its resources, controlled costs, and modernised the business. It has made significant savings and efficiencies while improving services. In terms of FTEs, as of 30 March, 2025, RNZ\u2019s FTE was 342 \u2013 a reduction of 5.3% from the end of the last financial year.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking ahead to the new financial year, RNZ will continue to live within its means and focus on providing value to the public through trusted content.\u201d<\/p>\n Farewell, NZR+ – a sneak peek at new app<\/p>\n In the business and entrepreneurial worlds, it\u2019s known as the \u2018fast fail\u2019.<\/p>\n And while NZ Rugby isn\u2019t prepared to use that phrase – after all, the product has been in market for almost three years – the organisation has blown the fulltime whistle on its streaming brand, NZR+.<\/p>\n NZR+ will be rolled into the much stronger All Blacks.com digital brand, with a new-look All Blacks\/Black Ferns app to also launch in the next few weeks, and ahead of the All Blacks\u2019 first test match of the year in early July.<\/p>\n NZR has recognised the need for one cohesive digital destination for its growing international and local fan base – offering the likes of exclusive video, live scoring, player profiles, ticketing and merchandise sales.<\/p>\n It should also end any strategic confusion – with the organisation now able to focus on a single owned digital destination and brand (and the important first-party data that comes with that) while also building its social media presence and third-party data on other channels.<\/p>\n NZR chairman David Kirk told TVNZ\u2019s Q+A that \u201ca big chunk of millions\u201d had been spent on NZR+, although he couldn\u2019t confirm it was as much as $20m, as some reports have suggested.<\/p>\nBlack Caps captain Mitchell Santner celebrates a wicket against South Africa. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Former Black Caps star Martin Guptill – ANZ is one of NZ Cricket’s most prominent and longest-serving sponsors. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
The Westport News’ front-page apology this week.<\/p>\n
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson (top), outgoing chairman Jim Mather (centre) and Morning Report co-host John Campbell (bottom). Photos \/ RNZ, Supplied<\/p>\n
The new-look All Blacks-Black Ferns app is coming in the next few weeks. Image \/ NZR<\/p>\n