With RNZ\u2019s longest-serving board members (Mather, Jane Wrightson and Irene Gardiner) about to depart, a major shake-up is on the cards at board and – possibly later – executive levels.<\/p>\n
There are also questions of whether RNZ faces further cuts in the upcoming Budget.<\/p>\n
By July 1, all seven board members will be appointees under this coalition Government since 2023, with incumbent director Brent Impey set to become chairman, Media Insider understands.<\/p>\n
RNZ’s current board. Three new appointments will be soon announced.<\/p>\n
Seymour did not hold back in an interview with Michael Laws on The Platform last week, saying he believed there would be a management overhaul in the wake of a new-look board.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have appointed most of the people on the board and replaced and refreshed them,\u201d Seymour told Laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a few more appointments to come. I think it\u2019s really critical that we are ensuring that we get better people on the board, and those people will change the management.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told Laws he was as \u201cfrustrated as you\u201d about RNZ.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question is, what can we realistically achieve with the time and resources we have … turning over the board, having the board turn over the management, changing the direction of the organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat will happen. But as Rachel Hunter once said, \u2018It won\u2019t happen overnight\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson. Photo \/ RNZ<\/p>\n
Without specifically naming Thompson, Seymour was critical that the RNZ chief executive, who is also the organisation\u2019s editor in chief, had overseen the appointment of John Campbell as RNZ\u2019s new Morning Report co-host. <\/p>\n
Seymour told Laws, \u201cLook, that guy\u2019s got an awful lot to answer for, and I suspect that he won\u2019t be answering the call at RNZ for much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
RNZ responds<\/p>\n
RNZ chairman Jim Mather released a strongly worded statement after being approached by Media Insider. <\/p>\n
\u201cEditorial decisions, including appointments to senior editorial roles, are the sole responsibility of RNZ management and are made in accordance with journalistic merit, statutory obligations, and the well\u2011established public\u2011media convention of audience need,\u201c he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitical views, ministerial commentary, or external pressure play no role in those decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the RNZ board was appointed \u201cunder statute to provide governance and oversight\u201d.<\/p>\n
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson (left inset) and chairman Jim Mather.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does not direct editorial content, and ministers do not direct the board or management. Any suggestion that board appointments are intended to influence management outcomes or editorial direction is inconsistent with the arm\u2019s\u2011length framework that underpins public trust in RNZ.”<\/p>\n
Mather said public scrutiny of RNZ\u2019s performance and funding was appropriate and expected. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat scrutiny must, however, respect the clear and necessary separation between ministers, governance, management and the newsroom. <\/p>\n
\u201cCommentary that publicly links board changes, management tenure or editorial appointments to political perspectives risks undermining confidence in RNZ\u2019s independence and the integrity of its journalism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seymour: A \u2018tragedy\u2019<\/p>\n
I went back to Seymour early yesterday to follow up on his comments on Michael Laws\u2019 show last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think RNZ overall is a tragedy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are very capable people, some great journalists there, and a lot of people who actually have the mission that we would all like media to take on, that is to accurately and fairly report what matters. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany times I\u2019ve said that the gallery team that Jane Patterson built is the best in Parliament, and I think that\u2019s continued under Jo [Jo Moir]. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I look at the overall organisation. Audience, trust, it\u2019s all been in freefall – I know they\u2019ve upticked recently – but when I challenge them about this, they say, \u2018Oh, well, that\u2019s happening to all media\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the point of RNZ if they just follow the trends of every other media outlet? So that is a tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He later told RNZ itself, following Mather\u2019s statement: \u201cI have not given RNZ or TVNZ any direction that would breach either Act. Decisions around staffing, presenter line-ups, and editorial matters are for boards and management. Anyone who thinks RNZ is taking editorial instructions from me clearly does not listen to RNZ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seymour told RNZ that editorial independence did not mean \u201cfreedom from accountability\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government appoints boards, sets broad, non-editorial expectations, and ministers are entitled to comment when publicly owned media organisations are losing audience, relevance, or public confidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Act Party clearly does not want taxpayer money being funnelled to RNZ. It believes it should be privatised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t finalised everything, but it was in our alternative budget,\u201d Seymour told Laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no love lost between us. I think you can safely say that [we believe] they should be selling advertising like everyone else, and good luck to them. They\u2019ll find out how valuable they really are.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Minister responds<\/p>\n
As Media Insider reported last month,<\/a> Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith wrote a sternly worded letter of expectations to RNZ in March, telling the public broadcaster that the Government wanted further savings \u201cto be identified and realised to ensure RNZ\u2019s long-term financial sustainability\u201d.<\/p>\n RNZ told Media Insider at the time that it was already well in hand with cutting its costs over the past 12 months, and since the Government reduced its annual funding by almost $5 million.<\/a><\/p>\n It detailed a range of cost-saving measures and said staff numbers sat at 342 – a 5.3% reduction on the previous financial year.<\/p>\n Goldsmith told Media Insider yesterday that decisions about RNZ management were not something the Government was involved in.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cabinet appoints the board, and we give them very clear instructions about what we want.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of the primary focuses are increasing audience share as a measure of progress and also building levels of trust.<\/p>\n \u201cBut also that they manage the entity in a way that is financially sustainable within the funding that they\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n \u201cDecisions about management are directly for the board, not something that we as politicians or ministers get directly involved in.\u201d<\/p>\n Media Insider asked him directly, \u201cDo you have confidence in the RNZ management?\u201d<\/p>\n He said: \u201cMy confidence lies within the board and obviously we\u2019re making changes to that, and that\u2019s my primary lever.\u201d<\/p>\n Goldsmith said he was not going to be critical of past board members, but \u201cwe\u2019re very confident with the quality of our appointments as they come through\u201d. <\/p>\n The Government announced in last year\u2019s Budget that RNZ\u2019s funding was being cut by $18m over the next four years – this equated to $4.6m a year, which was equivalent to about 7% per cent of its annual operating budget of $67m.<\/p>\n Asked whether the overhauled board would be handling an even smaller budget in 2026-27, Goldsmith said: \u201cYou know I can\u2019t answer that question.\u201d<\/p>\n John Campbell: \u2018I am faithful to the requirements of journalism\u2019<\/p>\n David Seymour\u2019s issues with John Campbell as Morning Report co-host stem partly from past columns that he\u2019s written for TVNZ in which Campbell has criticised the coalition Government.<\/p>\n In one column, days after the coalition deal was signed in 2023, Campbell described Seymour, Winston Peters and Christopher Luxon as empty of ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too upset about that. I don\u2019t want to talk to the guy if I don\u2019t have to,\u201d Seymour told Laws.<\/p>\n The problem was, he said, Campbell\u2019s elevation to Morning Report co-host. <\/p>\n \u201cYou would hope that people would see the job of being the Morning Report interviewer on what was the most popular radio show until Hosking [Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking] ate their lunch … you would think it would be such a prestigious position that only people who have absolutely kept the highest level of probity and above politics and only there for the story and interview … it should be the job of a lifetime. <\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who has written the kinds of things that John Campbell has written … sorry mate, I mean if you want to write that stuff you can, but it\u2019s out of the question that you\u2019d get this job. <\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, that\u2019s not how the current management of RNZ thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n Campbell earlier told RNZ Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan that criticism of his politics was misguided<\/a>.<\/p>\n Campbell told Mulligan that he was not concerned about being perceived by some people to be left-leaning or that the broadcaster has become \u201ctoo woke\u201d or \u201ctoo left\u201d, and that this is a reason it has lost listeners.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not worried about that … the kind of people who are saying that \u2013 we need to ask why they\u2019re saying it, what their agendas are, who they are,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent so long doing this. I look back over my career … one of the examples I always give, possibly the interview that made people angriest, was Corngate when Helen Clark was Prime Minister.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember Alex, my daughter, was little, and I was pushing her in a buggy through Three Lamps [the inner-Auckland suburb], and this person loomed out of frame, hovered above the buggy, and leaned in and said, \u2018I pity you having him for a father.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Campbell later added in the interview with Mulligan: \u201cI know that when I interview somebody I am faithful to the requirements of journalism, and that is to treat people fairly.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim Mather, meanwhile, said RNZ remained focused on its core purpose: \u201cserving New Zealanders with fair, accurate and independent news and current affairs\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cIts governance and management settings exist to safeguard that purpose, not to accommodate political preference.\u201d<\/p>\n He said it had been a privilege to serve as chairman. <\/p>\n \u201cRNZ now reaches more New Zealanders than ever before, we are growing both digital and radio audiences and we are considered New Zealand\u2019s most trusted news brand.\u201d<\/p>\n Maiki Sherman steps down<\/p>\n TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has today announced she is leaving the broadcaster.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe level of scrutiny on me this past week has been unprecedented, and this has placed enormous pressure on me,\u201d she said in a social media post on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cMy role has become untenable, and so I am finishing up with TVNZ today.\u201d<\/p>\n She had not been spotted back at work at Parliament by insiders this week, despite having served a five-day suspension.<\/p>\n The suspension was handed down by Speaker Gerry Brownlee following Sherman\u2019s attempts to interview National Party whip Stuart Smith in an off-limits area, late at night.<\/p>\n Sherman was originally assigned to cover PM Christopher Luxon\u2019s short trip to Singapore this week, but she was replaced by a colleague, Mei Heron. Her Parliament suspension would not have prevented her from covering the PM\u2019s trip.<\/p>\n Earlier, a TVNZ spokeswoman would not confirm whether Sherman herself had pulled out of the PM\u2019s trip, or if TVNZ had made the call.<\/p>\n While Sherman\u2019s parliamentary suspension ended on Wednesday morning, she had not been spotted at the precinct this week. Her reporting has been absent from the 6pm news.<\/p>\n All of these factors heightened speculation about Sherman\u2019s future at TVNZ, ahead of today\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n Media Insider understands both TVNZ and Sherman have had legal representation, with the broadcaster using Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.<\/p>\n A TVNZ spokeswoman would not confirm this or answer a list of other questions yesterday, reiterating that the company does \u201cnot comment on employment matters\u201d.<\/p>\n Sherman, who has also faced a barrage of media coverage over an incident in which she allegedly called Lloyd Burr a \u201cf***ot\u201d during an incident in Nicola Willis\u2019 office last May, has not answered calls or a specific message this week. <\/p>\n In his interview with Michael Laws on The Platform last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Act leader David Seymour said: \u201cI\u2019m sure that the [TVNZ] board and management will be seeing that, you know, it\u2019s pretty difficult to have someone credibly fronting the news every night when everyone knows how she behaves. I think that\u2019s going to be tough for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertising shake-up: ANZ\u2019s new agency, Air NZ account up in air<\/p>\n One of the country\u2019s biggest and most lucrative advertising accounts is heading to a new agency.<\/p>\n Publicis-owned MBM has won the media-buying pitch for ANZ bank.<\/p>\n MBM was one of five agencies, including incumbent PHD, involved in the highly anticipated pitch drawn out over many months.<\/p>\n ANZ spends tens of millions of dollars a year in advertising, making it one of the country\u2019s biggest and most important agency accounts.<\/p>\n Losing ANZ after 15 years will be a blow for Omnicom-owned PHD.<\/p>\n ANZ said in a statement to Media Insider that pitch participants were evaluated against a detailed brief encompassing media strategy, technology capability and marketing effectiveness. <\/p>\n \u201cThe review is part of our focus on ensuring we have the right model to support the bank\u2019s strategic priorities amid an ever-evolving media landscape,\u201d ANZ chief marketing officer Astrud Burgess said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would like to sincerely thank PHD for their partnership over the past 15 years. It has been a highly successful relationship over a long period with many significant campaigns and milestones.<\/p>\n \u201cOur relationship with PHD has included many defining brand moments for ANZ. We\u2019re extremely grateful for the commitment, creativity and collaboration the PHD team has brought to ANZ over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n She said MBM had \u201cdemonstrated a strong, future-fit media capability, an experienced team and a best-in-class model that best fits ANZ\u2019s requirements\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe media landscape is changing quickly, with new technology, data, AI, and shifts in media formats and agency models,\u201d said Burgess.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to ensure we\u2019re well-positioned for the future and we\u2019re excited to see what the MBM team can bring.\u201d<\/p>\n The transition will occur over the coming months.<\/p>\n ANZ said there would be no changes to ANZ\u2019s other agency relationships, including creative agency TBWA New Zealand and Track.<\/p>\n ANZ Australia is also reviewing its media partnerships for Australia, but no decision has been made.<\/p>\n Air NZ ad account up in the air<\/p>\n The Warehouse, Westpac, and ANZ have all been shaking up their advertising accounts. <\/p>\n Now it\u2019s Air NZ\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n The airline\u2019s media buying and planning contracts – currently the domain of Dentsu and Starcom – are up for pitch for the first time in years.<\/p>\n Dentsu has held the account since 2017.<\/p>\n It is expected to fight hard for the account, alongside other major global-owned companies such as PHD and perhaps a selection of independent New Zealand agencies.<\/p>\n An Air NZ spokeswoman confirmed the airline was \u201ccurrently reviewing our media agency support to make sure we have the right partners in place for the next phase of the Air New Zealand brand, and how we continue to connect with customers across a rapidly changing mix of channels\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can confirm that both our incumbent media agencies, Dentsu and Starcom, are part of the review process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe highly value both partners and their capabilities. We can\u2019t comment on other participating agencies while the review is underway.\u201d<\/p>\n She hoped the review would be completed in the next few months.<\/p>\n The review did not encompass the airline\u2019s creative agency partnerships.<\/p>\n As Media Insider revealed last December,<\/a> Air New Zealand\u2019s latest flight safety video \u2013 one of the anticipated events on the creative advertising industry\u2019s calendar \u2013 has been grounded after falling victim to cost-saving.<\/p>\n While that was on hold, the airline did release a new brand ad in December, a campaign led by another creative agency and featuring musician Marlon Williams. The ad is a return to some old-school creative values, with epic, sweeping landscape shots and an emotional soundtrack.<\/p>\n The airline regularly releases new flight safety videos \u2013 there have been 23 in the past 16 years. But the gap between the existing video featuring Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams and a new one \u2013 hopefully some time later in 2026, the airline said earlier \u2013 would be one of the biggest.<\/p>\n Right now, the airline is instead rolling through some of the flight safety videos from its archives to keep passengers \u2013 including frequent flyers \u2013 engaged.<\/p>\n As Media Insider reported earlier, and before it had been put on hold, creative agency Bastion Shine had been working with the airline on the latest safety video, potentially with AI elements<\/a>.<\/p>\n RNZ journalist withdraws as media awards finalist<\/p>\n An RNZ journalist has withdrawn his name as a finalist in one of the categories at this year\u2019s New Zealand Media Awards even though he didn\u2019t have to, says his employer.<\/p>\n The journalist was a finalist, alongside two others, for the Le Mana Pacific Award.<\/p>\n It is understood that the journalist\u2019s entry focused on his specialist work in a series of stories in which he worked alongside another journalist.<\/p>\n \u201cA journalist at RNZ entered the Le Mana Pacific Award category at the … Media Awards after being strongly encouraged to do so by senior editorial staff at RNZ who recognised the fantastic work the journalist had undertaken over the past year,\u201d said RNZ chief news officer Mark Stevens.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen concerns about the entry were raised by a journalist outside of RNZ, I reviewed the entry and found no cause for concern.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir work was top class, both in terms of showcasing important Pacific stories and the high journalistic standards demonstrated. The entry also entirely legitimately acknowledged their work in the stories that were submitted for judging.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite my full support and endorsement of the entry, the RNZ journalist chose to withdraw it. I respect their decision, but am disappointed an RNZ journalist will not get the opportunity to be recognised at an industry level for their exceptional work.\u201d<\/p>\n Barry Soper book a best-seller<\/p>\n Broadcaster Barry Soper\u2019s new memoir has soared to the top of New Zealand\u2019s best-selling book lists, according to NielsenIQ data.<\/p>\n One Last Question, Prime Minister focuses on Soper\u2019s time in Parliament, and his judgment of 12 PMs, from Sir Robert Muldoon to Christopher Luxon.<\/p>\n \u201cBarry\u2019s insight into parliament is second-to-none, and given he is such a gifted storyteller, it\u2019s no surprise he\u2019s topped the bestseller chart,\u201d said HarperCollins publishing director Alex Hedley.<\/p>\n \u201cAs John Key says in his foreword, \u2018It\u2019s fair to say Barry knew, and still knows, where all the bones are buried.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThe book has received terrific reviews from across the spectrum, and we couldn\u2019t be happier for Barry.\u201d<\/p>\n Where to now for the BSA?<\/p>\n One of the fascinating questions arising from the pending abolition of the Broadcasting Standards Authority is what becomes of the complaint that led to the saga unfolding in the first place.<\/p>\n Will the BSA still adjudicate on the complaint against The Platform and host Sean Plunket\u2019s comments about M\u0101ori tikanga \u201cmumbo jumbo\u201d?<\/p>\n Plunket himself is ignoring the BSA\u2019s correspondence on it all.<\/p>\n BSA chief executive Stacey Wood said: \u201cThe Minister has said the BSA will, in the meantime, continue in its role under the Broadcasting Act. We\u2019re awaiting further advice on [Wednesday\u2019s] announcement and will work through what this means for existing and ongoing work.\u201d<\/p>\n Businessman Troy Bowker was pleased that Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith had made the call to scrap the BSA.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you know, I\u2019m funding the litigation the BSA has with The Platform. If the BSA had not been shut down by Goldsmith, I would\u2019ve paid whatever it took to prevent them from their ridiculous attempt to regulate the internet. It was the most bizarre and Orwellian overreach from the BSA. They cancelled themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a chipper Plunket says broadcasters such as Sky TV, TVNZ and NZME owe him a lunch – he points out he\u2019ll be saving them tens of thousands of dollars in annual BSA levies.<\/p>\n BSA decisions<\/p>\n A day after the announcement of its imminent demise, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has bared its teeth, revealing it has upheld complaints about TVNZ\u2019s coverage of comments made by US President Donald Trump. READ THE FULL STORY HERE<\/a><\/p>\n The Chase NZ host Paul Henry has narrowly outrun the Broadcasting Standards Authority, after a complaint about comments he made about Indian food on the quiz show. READ THE FULL STORY HERE<\/a><\/p>\n PR \u2018conflict\u2019 claim \u2013 NZ Herald journalist resigns<\/p>\nTVNZ’s John Campbell and Act leader David Seymour in an earlier interview for TVNZ. Photo \/ TVNZ<\/p>\n
TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has resigned.<\/p>\n
The Sharma family – and cricket – have been the centrepiece of ANZ adverts in recent years. Now the bank is switching out its media-buying agency. Photo \/ ANZ<\/p>\n
Air New Zealand has created 23 safety videos – the most recent one stars Kiwi NBA player Steven Adams. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Barry Soper’s new book covers the tenures of 12 Prime Ministers. <\/p>\n
The Platform owner and host Sean Plunket and (inset) BSA chair Susie Staley.<\/p>\n