Mediawatch
There's never a shortage of opinions on the media but Mediawatch looks at it all in detail for those keen to know more about the news - as well as those who work in media.
Political policy pile-ups, TikTok’s impact, gigs get gross
Sunday’s no longer a day of rest in politics, as parties pump out policies to set the media agenda. Also: TikTok’s economic impact claims - and what the app is good for in business and politics; reports of diapers on the dancefloor.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:55 Policies on parental leave, Pharmac funding and AI data centres were all mixed up in the media as parties jostled for attention this week
15:20 Social media on the election mix with 11 days to go<...
Midweek - Stuff cuts, Nash exits & podcast profits, funflation & gigs gone to sh*t
What might new cuts at Stuff mean? Also - political candidates and a 'prominent sportsperson' suffer the spotlight, fun-flation & the unfortunate consequences at live gigs.
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Political dignity deficits, Long Story Short & paying for podcasts
One sexist text to a podcasting politico had National gnashing their teeth, but it wasn’t the only political dignity deficit in the news this week. Also: are podcasts popular enough for people to pay enough for the makers to make a living here?
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:54 Coverage of Nash’s text going public - and other political dignity deficits
10:54 Midweek Mediawatch trail: golf vs football, sport obscures more war
13:30 Paul Henry quizzed on levelling up news media and...
Midweek - FIFA v golf, Argie aggro, more war, McGruers of Marton
World Cup v golf, Argentina v The World, US v Iran, Israel v Palestine- and a teary tribute to a Marton mainstay.
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Paul Henry’s unveiling, Sam Neill stops the news, Stuff’s new local plan
ACT’s unveiling of Paul Henry triggered a media frenzy - and claims the shock jock might shirk the work it takes to make it in politics. Also: how Sam Neill’s shock death stopped the news & Stuff’s new digital bid to hook local news readers.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
1:19 Sam Neill’s death shocked the media, but his depth and range were duly honoured.
13:46 The stage-managed Paul Henry announcement prompted a full-on media frenzy, followed by scepticism about his commitme...
Midweek - Sam Neill's depth & range, Henry & Binface capture media, podcasting the courts
Sam Neill's shock death jolted our media - but they admirably honoured his depth and range. Paul Henry and Count Binface candidacies captivates media, court news in podcast form.
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Platforms overtake news outlets, politics & media undermining trust
The biggest survey of news habits says more people now pick social media platforms than actual news media for news. And more of us are watching news on them rather than reading it. Also: claims that point-scoring, headline-hungry politicians undermine trust in news.
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Midweek - big defamation bill, NRL, FIFA, NPC & AI fake fans, Trump's red card reversal
Who pays the big bill for a 'wholly unsuccessful' defamation case? Also: Facebook whistleblower still gagged and NRL, NPC, FIFA on TV - but will Kiwis warm to AI rugby fans?
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RNZ chair’s hot seat, Opportunity’s backlash, political tax tussles
The government wants more listeners, more efficiency and greater public trust from RNZ’s new chair and board. How will he respond, and what will change? Also: Opportunity’s backlash, and political tax tussles on social media.
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Midweek - Gloriavale on screen again, editorials upgraded, World Cup pile-on, Mediawatch alarm update
Latest lid-lifting Gloriavale doco draws criticism - and viewers worldwide. Also: new Post leader upgrades its leaders, World Cup losers & winners, Mediawatch's alarming update.
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Opportunity knocks, The Post’s Tracy Watkins
The media seized on the prospect of a new political party as ‘queenmaker’ - mostly off the back of one poll. Also: the outgoing editor of The Post Tracy Watkins on big changes under new leadership and in her 40+ years in journalism.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:56 TV shows ‘big two’ support on the slide while minor parties prosper.
03:10 Media pump up Opportunity’s chances
13:30 The Post and Sunday Star-Times rings the changes under new leadership
17:48 Outgoing editor Tracy Watk...
Midweek - Sports songs & Scots' social media soft power, revamps & relaunches
A huge few days of sport preoccupied the media - including singing Scots' masterclass of social media soft power. Also, revamps and relaunches at RNZ, Herald and Stuff, a new news-ish podcast from The Spinoff - and an alarming moment on Mediawatch.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Unpacking political quibbling about policy costs, media minister under scrutiny, re-booting Metro
Politicians are already pumping out counter-claims about the costs of each other’s election-year policies, frustrating citizens and the media. Is there a better way? Also: media minister under scrutiny at Parliament - and reviving Metro at a tough time for publishing.
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Midweek - Football fantasy, Hooton hoo-hah, more RNZ changes, sweary Supernanny
The All Whites are punching above their media weight at the World Cup. Also: the hoo-hah sparked by The Post picking Matthew Hooton as editor, more RNZ changes flagged, Supernanny's sweary backing for social media ban
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TVNZ goes pay-per-view, HBO sets up & Freeview goes ‘next gen’
TVNZ's screening the FIFA World Cup and UFC, but for the first time Kiwis will have to pay them to see it all. Also: HBO becomes the latest streamer seeking subscribers here - and will our homegrown TV platform Freeview stay 100% free?
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Midweek - Top voxpops & eye-witnesses, TVNZ's costly claim, Metro rides again, more attribution angst
Who'll pay for a 'wholly unsuccessful' defamation case against TVNZ? Also: Metro rides again, more attribution angst & a ferry good eye witness
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Crime coverage gains recognition - and respect, 500-up for Southland stalwart
Crime coverage was heavily criticised in the past as too tabloid. Now it's getting greater respect and recognition. Mediawatch asks RNZ’s award-winning crime correspondent Sam Sherwood what’s changed. Also: 500-up for a dogged solo Southland newshound.
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Midweek - anti-nuke angst, gagging, rich list resistance, youth news fails
How one freelancer prompted a 'freeloader' claim that propelled our anti-nuke policy into the news. Also: two efforts to gag the media, NBR puts up 'rich list' resistance, NZ's dismal youth news history.
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Managing the sugar-free Budget message, TVNZ youth service dies young
How media managed the message of a 'sugar-free' Budget, and highlighted entitlements for MPs. Also what the Budget might mean for our media, and why an award-winning youth service closed down for good this week.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
1:05 How the government managed expectations of a sugar-free Budget 2026 via the media - while media zeroed in on treats and entitlements enjoyed by MPs.
10:36 Budget 2026 cut the budgets of public media, though Māori media funding was boosted to ward off a ‘fis...
Midweek - Awards and honours, future of papers, journalism by numbers, Dame Jools
Awards in tense times between politics & media, RNZ's ratings, pondering papers' future, journalism by numbers - and the death of Dame Jools Topp.
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Public servants cut deep, RNZ boss flags exit, AI for programmes & podcasts
Media-weigh up cuts to public service and claims AI can fill the gap. Also: RNZ's long-serving boss flags his exit amid political calls for change, AI for programme-makers and podcasters.
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Midweek - mayors mouth off, end of the golden weather page
Two mayors mouth off and get a little loose in long-form chats - and a former one blasts the media in a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry. Also: Stuff papers dump the weather page- and some talkback callers aren't happy.
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Politicians vs media getting personal, live sport habits, cockroach radio, MMP maths
Politicians vs media: the worst it’s ever been, and getting worse? Or just more of the butting heads between the powerful and the press we’ve always had? Also: live sport’s not just a TV and radio game these days, radio is a cockroach (and cheap) and an MMP maths fail.
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Midweek - Sherman pile-on and pile-up, TVNZ's big sport play, football frenzies
Maiki Sherman's exits sparks a pile-on and a pile-up of opinions. Also: TVNZ's bold sports plays, frenzied football finales.
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Putting down the broadcast watchdog, deputy PM lashes RNZ & TVNZ
The government wants to scrap the BSA and fill the accountability void with self-regulation. Would that work? Would standards suffer? Will it happen at all? Also: ministers must not interfere in public broadcasters, but the Deputy PM has sounded off about RNZ, TVNZ and its outgoing political editor.
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Midweek - BSA binned, Voyager sinned, Tame's empty chair & Brown's beefs
Government moves to bin the BSA, Voyager awards bin sponsor, Jack Tame's empty chair & Wayne Brown says 'don't go there'
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India FTA & butter chicken blurts, TVNZ’s political pressure, stadium rocks rugby
Our FTA with India’s a big deal, but how did our media deal with blurts from opponents - as well as our changing place in a fast-changing world? Also: TVNZ under political pressure - and a new stadium spark rugby joy while the Warriors spark worry.
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Midweek - Political tension at TVNZ, PM skips Breakfast, the power of noise & silence
TVNZ's political editor under scrutiny - as PM skips Breakfast. Also: Piers Morgan vs Russell Brand in pauses & York City vs Rochdale full noise.
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PM calls time on ‘soap opera’, Microsoft urges NZ to embrace AI, dodgy weather on TV
Reports National MPs might roll their leader sparked a frenzy that prompted the PM's ‘put-up-or-shut-up’ vote. When he won, he told media to shut up too. Fair enough? Also: Microsoft’s main man’s urged NZ to embrace AI while an expert warns our media have a lot to lose - and dodgy weather on TV.
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Midweek - vote of confidence, TVNZ+ upgrade, dogs on screen
Who's happy after the PM's 'put up or shut up' showdown? Also: TVNZ tweaks its on-demand offering, sheepdogs on screen, one dodgy weather show and one dodgy song.
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News trust up after years of slumps, storm before the calm
Trust in the news is up again after years of decline, the latest annual survey says. But it als says trust in social media is up and more of us tune out the news more often. What’s going on? Also: Vaianu wasn’t as deadly as the media warned. Did they get it wrong?
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
New Zealanders' trust in news is up after years of slumps
In this episode:
0:50 The media took Cyclone Vaianu seriously, amplifying official warnings it could be l...
Midweek - Breakfast battles, trust up, Welly woe, piggybacking on others' content
Over-egged media battle at breakfast-time, piggy-backing on others’ content, chronicling the capital's crisis, a surprise bump in trust in our news.
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Reporting Trump’s outrageous outbursts, Petrolhead & motoring media adapt to fuel fears
Some say he's unhinged. Others reckon outrageous utterances are part of his media management. How should media handle the stuff Trump says? Also: public figures cutting loose in long podcasts - and is it the best or worst of times for a publication called Petrolhead?
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Midweek - Trump outburst outrage, Aussie soldier's fall from grace, Phillips doco revelations
Outrageous outbursts from Trump - again. Also: revealing details of the documentary about the Police pursuit of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips, and a huge fall from grace for a former soldier who took on the Aussie media - and Emile's sweary save.
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Midweek - BSA extends reach, a bad week for Big Tech, breakfast with Tova and an easter chocolate ban.
The BSA has decided it has jurisdiction over digital outlets like The Platform - hosted by former-RNZer Sean Plunket - sparking heated debate. US Courts find Instagram and YouTube caused harm to children, what does that mean? And a look at Tova O'Brien's Breakfast debut.
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Who’s winning the war, where the ad money goes, Chathams spending scandal
The bulk of the big money advertisers spent in our media goes offshore to big online operators. What’s the future for the ad industry here? Also: mixed messages about when the war will end in Iran, and startling spending in the Chathams that hit the headlines too late.
Read more about Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
1:01 Who’s winning the war that’s fouling up the flow of our fuel? Depends who you hear - and believe - in the media. . .
10:47 Three quarters of the $4 billion spent on ads...
Midweek - media v Hegseth, TVNZ defamation win, SNL from USA to UK. peas piffle
The media chalk up a win in the Pentagon - maybe. Also: TVNZ's comprehensive court win over co-governance campaigner, some bold journalism from newspapers in the South Island, SNL in the UK, Emile's sweary surprise save.
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Reporting shortages & petrol panic, privacy v the right to speak out
Reporting shortages without prompting petrol panic. Also: a social media post about the Labour Party leader ended up as headline news - in spite of denials and no-one knowing what’s really true. Does the right to tell a story override others’ right to privacy - or the public interest?
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:50 How the media reacted to the prospect of fuel shortages and the possibility of heavy measures to manage them, and rekindling memories of carless days.
11:00 Newsroom Pro edit...
Midweek - political leader obsession, Trump v BBC, athletics aesthetic reboot, feijoas are bad
Why are so many stories zeroed in on political party leaders? Also: Trump's wild claims about the BBC, Post and Press online makeover, TVNZ's aesthetic athletics reboot, feijoas must go.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
The polls that pressure politics, Country Calendar’s Coro Street-level staying power
The media piled on after one poor poll result, piling more pressure on the PM. Who calls the shots as third parties get in in the act with news media? Also: is Country Calendar current affairs, documentary or reality TV? Or all of the above? And what explains its Coro-level loyalty and longevity?
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
0:47 One poor poll result that put pressure on the PM late last week was still pre-occupying the media this week. Was it really a story?
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