The gap between the two stations is now 164,500 listeners, after RNZ National had closed the difference to 103,300 at the end of last year.<\/p>\n
When its overall audience is measured against all commercial radio stations, RNZ National has fallen from third at the end of 2025, behind Newstalk ZB and The Breeze, to now sixth, behind Newstalk ZB, The Breeze, More FM, The Edge and The Rock.<\/p>\n
RNZ\u2019s momentum has stalled at the same time as 23 of the 26 commercial radio stations measured by GFK recorded audience growth.<\/p>\n
The audience drop is starkest at breakfast, with Morning Report\u2019s audience falling back to 336,500, close to the 333,200 recorded in the first survey of 2025 – its worst result in the past six years.<\/p>\n
Newstalk ZB breakfast host Mike Hosking now has 122,000 more listeners than RNZ\u2019s Morning Report – the biggest gap in at least six years. In 2020, Morning Report had about 100,000 more listeners than Hosking.<\/p>\n
John Campbell started as the new Morning Report co-host on April 13 – he was in the role for only three weeks of this latest survey period, and thus his influence on these latest ratings is minimal.<\/p>\n
We won\u2019t start seeing more of his impact until the next survey results, in August, and the full impact of his presence in metro markets until the last survey of the year, in late November. <\/p>\n
His full impact in all markets won\u2019t be known until next year.<\/p>\n
Mike Hosking hosts Newstalk ZB’s breakfast show and John Campbell is Morning Report co-host. Illustration \/ Oliver Rusden; Photos: NZME, RNZ<\/p>\n
There are some bright spots for RNZ in the survey. <\/p>\n
It has gained 700 listeners in Auckland – now at 133,400 – and 6400 in Christchurch – now at 70,300, but it has lost 5000 listeners in Wellington.<\/p>\n
In a press release, RNZ described the results as \u201cstable\u201d.<\/p>\n
RNZ chief audio officer Pip Keane highlighted audience growth for Nine to Noon, Midday Report, and Checkpoint.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased to see the Auckland market for RNZ hold up this survey and gains made in our target audience of people aged 45-59 as these were specific areas of focus for our audio strategy. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is more to do, and we are on track. It is also good to see RNZ National ahead of where the station was a year ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
RNZ chief audio officer Pip Keane and (inset) Morning Report hosts Ingrid Hipkiss and John Campbell. Photos \/ RNZ<\/p>\n
Keane said improving Morning Report\u2019s performance remained a focus. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is too early to judge the impact of the new presenter team for Morning Report with the new combination of Ingrid Hipkiss and John Campbell in place for just three weeks out of the 48-week fieldwork period.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeedback, however, has been encouraging. What we\u2019re hearing from audiences is that listeners value the strong journalism and interviewing skills John and Ingrid bring to Morning Report, along with the natural chemistry and warmth between them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The separate RNZ Concert station grew its audience – from 154,100 to 160,300 and RNZ will be hoping that RNZ National can return to growth at the next ratings release in August.<\/p>\n
After a scathing review of its audio performance by former news boss Richard Sutherland last year, RNZ has been changing out formats and talent in various shows.<\/p>\n
In her first media interview since being appointed to the role in October last year,<\/a> Keane said last month that there were no sacred cows.<\/p>\n Looking ahead at the time, she said these latest ratings would give her and the recently appointed executive editor of news programmes, Sarah de Croy, guidance on future changes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll really have the time now that Sarah has started … to actually sit down with all of the teams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll dissect those GFK results, and we\u2019ll look at where we\u2019re tracking. What shows need to make changes, and which ones don\u2019t need to make any changes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll slap each other on the back if we need to and say we\u2019re doing well here and we\u2019re doing well there. But I think our audience needs to know that we\u2019re open to change.<\/p>\n \u201cIf things need to be changed, they will be changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Digital performance<\/p>\n It has been a happier couple of years for RNZ when it comes to its website audience. <\/p>\n Rnz.co.nz was once a distant fourth or fifth, behind Stuff, the NZ Herald, Newshub and sometimes TVNZ, but is now a clear third. <\/p>\n Under former Stuff editorial boss Mark Stevens and Rhonwyn Newson, RNZ\u2019s website has broadened its mix of content, and has benefited the most from Newshub\u2019s closure in 2024.<\/p>\n According to the latest Nielsen data, Stuff has a monthly unique audience of 2.108 million, the Herald 1.997 million, RNZ 1.684 million and 1 News 804,000.<\/p>\n Budget, political pressure<\/p>\n RNZ and chief executive Paul Thompson announced last week that he would be stepping down at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI am sharing this news with you today as there has been recent unhelpful external commentary about his future,\u201d RNZ chairman Jim Mather told staff in an email on Friday.<\/a><\/p>\n Mather said the decision was Thompson\u2019s alone and that Thompson had signalled to the board in December last year that he would be stepping down later this year.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul and the board agree, given the current circumstances, that it is appropriate to make his announcement earlier to avoid further conjecture and distraction,\u201d Mather said.<\/p>\n Thompson\u2019s resignation announcement came on the eve of this week\u2019s ratings results and the Budget, with the likelihood that RNZ, like other public agencies, will face more belt-tightening.<\/p>\n His announcement also comes amid political criticism of RNZ.<\/p>\nRNZ chief executive Paul Thompson (left inset) and chairman Jim Mather.<\/p>\n