September 17th, 2024
Minister for Broadcasting and Media Willie Jackson announced on Thursday that the New Zealand government will invest $117.8 million over four years to ensure all New Zealanders have access to world-class public media content. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) will receive an annual increase of $25.7 million, while NZ On Air will receive a $10 million increase for 2023/24.
Jackson explained, "We must ensure that New Zealand can meet cost of living issues and support the cyclone recovery, while also delivering world class public media for all of Aotearoa.”
He added that the government's decision not to merge RNZ and TVNZ would save a total of $364.7 million over four years.
The funding increase for RNZ includes $12 million to maintain public media services, $12 million for a new digital platform, and $1.7 million for AM Transmission. NZ On Air's $10 million increase will focus on reaching new audiences.
In light of the changing media landscape, increased competition, changing audience demands, and declining revenue pressures, Jackson emphasised the importance of modernising and adapting public media.
"This investment will strengthen news and current affairs coverage through a free multi-media digital platform to reach new audiences, expand regional coverage to be truly national, establish a new initiative to prioritise Māori and Pacific content and support RNZ to deliver civil defence lifeline emergency communications," he said.
The $10 million increase for NZ On Air in 2023/24 will support collaborative public broadcasting and the creation of innovative content. Jackson said: "The funding will support the creation of high-quality content that better represents and connects with audiences such as Māori, Pasifika, Asian, disabled people and our rangatahi and tamariki. It is vital that all New Zealanders are seeing and hearing themselves in our public media."
The $1.7 million annual investment for RNZ's AM Transmission services will ensure the broadcaster continues as a critical lifeline utility in civil defence emergencies. Jackson highlighted the importance of RNZ in providing reliable, up-to-date and accurate emergency information during recent severe weather events.
"Investing $25.7 million annually into New Zealand's public media reflects the necessary changes that must be made to meet the challenges and priorities of our public media landscape. We’ve listened to New Zealanders, and our public media needs to provide for both an Aotearoa of today, and tomorrow," Jackson said.
Meanwhile NZ On Air is launching a new strategy to tackle the ongoing transformation in how local audiences connect with the stories and songs of Aotearoa. This move is boosted by an additional $10 million in government funding announced today.
NZ On Air rolling out a new strategy, boosted today with an additional $10m in funding from government. https://t.co/PdWiL3dmea
— NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu (@NZonAir) April 6, 2023
Dr Ruth Harley, NZ On Air Board Chair, on Thursday welcomed the return of $42 million in contestable funds, initially earmarked for the discontinued ANZPM (public media entity), along with the extra $10 million.
"These funds will assist us to support innovative public media content for some of the hard-to-reach audiences such as rangatahi, tamariki, Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian and disabled people, on the platforms they use," said Harley.
"The $10 million increase points to the ongoing challenges of delivering quality public media to all audiences in Aotearoa and NZ On Air's role in the wider media ecosystem to ensure we continue to reflect and develop New Zealand's identity and culture," Harley said.
In line with the government's announcement, the funding will be used to strengthen collaborative public broadcasting outcomes and encourage new ideas and broader audience reach.