Incoming RNZ chair (and current board member) Brent Impey. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Two new directors \u2013 Paula Browning and Richard Dellabarca \u2013 have been appointed to the RNZ board at the same time, replacing longstanding governors Irene Gardiner and Jane Wrightson, who, like Mather, depart on June 30. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to take on the role,\u201d Impey said last night, while also acknowledging and thanking Mather for his own time as chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that in today\u2019s media world, publicly owned media has a role in terms of developing and ensuring trust. That\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other key challenges were building RNZ National\u2019s ratings and \u201cto ensure the digital side \u2013 whether it\u2019s the news website or podcasts \u2013 grows\u201d.<\/p>\n
RNZ radio ratings \u2013 which had started to rebuild momentum in late 2025 \u2013 have dropped back, according to the first ratings survey of 2026.<\/a> It has fallen from the country\u2019s third-biggest radio station to sixth.<\/p>\n One of the new-look board\u2019s biggest, initial tasks will be to find a new chief executive to take on myriad challenges, after Paul Thompson announced last Friday that he would be leaving at the end of the year, after 13 years as boss.<\/a><\/p>\n That announcement came just a few weeks after criticism from Deputy Prime Minister and Act leader David Seymour about RNZ and Thompson.<\/p>\n Mather made clear last week that it was Thompson\u2019s decision alone to stand down. Thompson had signalled to the board last December that this would be his last year, Mather said.<\/p>\n The new board changes mean that all six RNZ governors have now been appointed during this current political cycle. With Impey\u2019s elevation to chair, it means there is still one board vacancy.<\/p>\n Impey, a qualified lawyer, is well accustomed to working with politicians and has a reputation as a no-nonsense business leader.<\/p>\n He has had a wide range of directorships and governance roles and was previously the chair of NZ Rugby and a longtime chief executive of MediaWorks (2000-2009).<\/p>\n His media career has also included board roles at the Television Broadcasters Council, Advertising Standards Authority and Radio Broadcasters Association.<\/p>\n The recruitment of a new RNZ chief executive gives Impey and his new-look board the perfect platform upon which to make big changes.<\/p>\n At the same time, Impey has also reiterated the importance of journalism and broadcasting. \u201cI hope that my record in terms of supporting editorial independence is known and respected. I do believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith, in announcing Impey\u2019s new role today, said: \u201cMr Impey\u2019s elevation to chair provides critical continuity for RNZ\u2019s governance and leadership. His decisive and transparent leadership style, deep media sector experience and commitment to journalistic independence will be valuable in guiding RNZ into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Goldsmith thanked Mather, Gardiner and Wrightson \u201cfor their significant contributions to RNZ during their tenure. I wish them all the best\u201d.<\/p>\n And he welcomed Browning and Dellabarca. \u201cThey have a strong mix of governance and executive experience, including expertise in financial oversight, digital transformation and stakeholder engagement. Their collective skills will support RNZ in navigating the evolving media landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cThese appointments will bolster the board for the next three years, supporting RNZ to be a financially sustainable and trusted state broadcaster.\u201d<\/p>\n Browning brings more digital technology expertise to the RNZ board. She is currently the part-time executive director of WeCreate Inc, an alliance of creative industries, and is deputy chair of the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board.<\/p>\n Dellabarca is an experienced governance professional and executive leader with expertise in financial management. \u201cAs a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Laws degree, he brings a strong foundation in both finance and legal disciplines,\u201d said Goldsmith. <\/p>\n Who will be the new RNZ CEO?<\/p>\n A good dozen or so names are worthy contenders to replace Paul Thompson as the boss of RNZ.<\/p>\n Thompson\u2019s departure gives the new-look board a rare opportunity for a new leader who will need to balance a range of public broadcasting, political, staffing and budgetary pressures.<\/p>\n Yesterday, the Government announced a further cut to RNZ\u2019s operational budget,<\/a> so the new leader will need financial discipline, while also meeting audience demands.<\/p>\n The role doesn\u2019t come up often \u2013 there have been just five RNZ CEOs (or equivalent titles) since 1984. At the same time, we\u2019ve had 12 prime ministers.<\/p>\n It is increasingly one of New Zealand\u2019s most scrutinised media roles \u2013 so much so that it should probably come with a health warning. <\/p>\n Internally, three names come to the fore \u2013 chief audio officer Pip Keane, chief news officer Mark Stevens and complaints custodian Andrew Holden. All three have strong journalistic pedigrees, as senior editors. <\/p>\n Of that trio, Keane has the most broadcasting experience, while Stevens is a former editor-in-chief of Stuff and Holden is a former editor of The Press in Christchurch and editor-in-chief of The Age in Melbourne.<\/p>\n However, I suspect RNZ will look for a new chief executive outside the walls of its soon-to-be new home in the TVNZ building in central Auckland.<\/p>\n Media Insider is picking two big names to be near the top of the hitlist \u2013 Bankers Association chief executive Roger Beaumont and an existing RNZ board member, Andrew Szusterman.<\/p>\n Both are media junkies with strong broadcasting experience and strong talent-handling skills. Beaumont was a director of marketing and communications at MediaWorks for a decade before moving into the banking sector, firstly with ASB. <\/p>\n Szusterman was also at MediaWorks for a long period, and in a range of senior content and production roles. He is currently the managing director of South Pacific Pictures.<\/p>\n They both have strong political nous, too.<\/p>\n Recruitment firms are also likely to be interested in NZME chief audio officer Jason Winstanley and TVNZ chief news and content officer Nadia Tolich \u2013 both have played critical roles in Newstalk ZB\u2019s success in recent years \u2013 but it will likely be difficult to prise them from their own top jobs.<\/p>\n Similarly, NZME chief marketing officer \u2013 audio Katie Mills and long-time MediaWorks radio executive, Jana Rangooni, a previous chief executive and chair of the radio broadcasters association, have strong radio backgrounds.<\/p>\n Former RNZ news boss Richard Sutherland \u2013 the man behind the scathing \u201cSutherland review\u201d into RNZ radio last year \u2013 and former broadcasting executives Brent McAnulty, Dallas Gurney and Glen Kyne are also names to watch.<\/p>\n Pasifika TV chief executive Natasha Meleisea is also likely a strong option \u2013 she already works closely with Impey, who chairs the organisation.<\/p>\n The next CEO inherits an organisation caught between successfully building a modern digital news business, but losing traditional live radio listeners.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s release of RNZ\u2019s GFK audience data shows it is now trailing commercial news rival Newstalk ZB by 164,500 listeners (ZB is owned by NZ Herald publisher NZME). <\/p>\n Goldsmith has repeatedly said that digital reach is great, but live, linear radio cannot be treated like a sunset activity. He also wants to see an improvement in trust levels \u2013 RNZ tops the annual AUT Trust in News survey; the Government thinks it can still do better.<\/p>\n The new chief executive will need to handle RNZ\u2019s budget squeeze over the next four years while fiercely defending editorial independence in an era of polarisation and heavy political scrutiny.<\/p>\n They will need the ability to manage relationships with politicians without letting them try to dictate content or who sits in the presenter chairs.<\/p>\n Media money<\/p>\n The Budget on Thursday delivered more funding for New Zealand\u2019s domestic screen rebate and M\u0101ori broadcasting, but less for RNZ, NZ on Air, and the Film Commission.<\/p>\n RNZ has had its budget shaved once again \u2013 a $1.4 million baseline cut on top of a $4.6m annual reduction last year.<\/p>\n RNZ chair Jim Mather said RNZ acknowledged \u201cthe current fiscal challenge and that its funding reduction is in alignment with most government agencies\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cRNZ absorbed a 7% reduction in funding over the last year. This further 2% reduction and the prospect of 5% reductions over the following two financial years means we will need to make further changes to ensure RNZ remains financially sustainable and can do the best possible job for audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n The Government has also reduced NZ on Air\u2019s budget by $2m a year and the New Zealand Film Commission\u2019s budget by $100,000 a year.<\/p>\n NZ on Air\u2019s budget is dropping from $104.76m this year to $102.697m for each of the next four financial years.<\/p>\n NZ on Air \u2013 which funds New Zealand shows, gaming and music \u2013 said it was not \u201cmassively surprised\u201d by the reduction.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are modelling how to apply our baseline reduction with the ultimate goal to cause as little pain as possible for content creators and platforms, and as little impact as possible on audience outcomes,\u201d chief executive Cameron Harland said.<\/p>\n READ THE FULL STORY HERE<\/a><\/p>\n Dame Lynda Topp\u2019s impassioned music awards speech<\/p>\n Dame Lynda Topp made an impassioned plea for more arts funding in an emotional speech from the stage at Thursday night\u2019s Aotearoa Music Awards.<\/p>\n In the same week as her beloved twin sister Dame Jools Topp\u2019s death \u2013 for which she said she would miss her forever \u2013 Lynda Topp spoke directly to Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith in the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not defined by a government. We are not defined by politicians. We are defined by people, and our culture and our art,\u201d Topp said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a message, Paul, if you listen up for a little minute, I\u2019d like you to take a message back to Wellington. I did a speed read on the Budget this afternoon. There doesn\u2019t appear to be any money for music. But in big, big letters at the top of the news, $2.1 billion for defence. What the f***?\u201d<\/p>\n She said New Zealand had \u201cthree tanks and two of those are set in concrete in Waiouru\u201d.<\/p>\nRNZ Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan – one of the broadcaster’s biggest talents – and (inset) RNZ’s new chair Brent Impey. Photos \/ Grey Areas podcast screengrab, Photosport<\/p>\n
New RNZ board member Paula Browning.<\/p>\n
New RNZ board member Richard Dellabarca.<\/p>\n
RNZ chief audio officer Pip Keane. Photo \/ RNZ <\/p>\n
Bankers Association chief executive Roger Beaumont. Photo \/ Dean Purcell.<\/p>\n
Pasifika TV chief executive Natasha Meleisea.<\/p>\n
RNZ chair Jim Mather, left, and chief executive Paul Thompson at Parliament’s social services and community select committee. <\/p>\n
Dame Lynda Topp at the Aotearoa Music Awards. Photo \/ Emma Beavis<\/p>\n