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Mediawatch

RNZ New Zealand

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.

Location:

Wellington, New Zealand

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Public servants cut deep, RNZ boss flags exit, AI for programmes & podcasts

5/23/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:43:42

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Midweek - mayors mouth off, end of the golden weather page

5/20/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:22:42

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Politicians vs media getting personal, live sport habits, cockroach radio, MMP maths

5/16/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:44:01

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Midweek - Sherman pile-on and pile-up, TVNZ's big sport play, football frenzies

5/13/2026
Maiki Sherman's exits sparks a pile-on and a pile-up of opinions. Also: TVNZ's bold sports plays, frenzied football finales. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:21:49

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Putting down the broadcast watchdog, deputy PM lashes RNZ & TVNZ

5/9/2026
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 said top-level change at RNZ and TVNZ is under way. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:44:24

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Midweek - BSA binned, Voyager sinned, Tame's empty chair & Brown's beefs

5/6/2026
Government moves to bin the BSA, Voyager awards bin sponsor, Jack Tame's empty chair & Wayne Brown says 'don't go there' Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:23:23

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India FTA & butter chicken blurts, TVNZ’s political pressure, stadium rocks rugby

5/2/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:41:04

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Midweek - Political tension at TVNZ, PM skips Breakfast, the power of noise & silence

4/29/2026
TVNZ's political editor under scrutiny - as PM skips Breakfast. Also: Piers Morgan vs Russell Brand in pauses & York City vs Rochdale full noise. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:26:19

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PM calls time on ‘soap opera’, Microsoft urges NZ to embrace AI, dodgy weather on TV

4/25/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:40:01

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Midweek - vote of confidence, TVNZ+ upgrade, dogs on screen

4/22/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:23:05

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News trust up after years of slumps, storm before the calm

4/18/2026
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 life-threatening. When it wasn’t, many accused the media of over-reacting. 11:40 Our trust in news has bounced back a bit in the latest annual survey, after several years of decline. 17:45 Is it a trend or a blip? The report’s authors, the AUT’s Dr Merja Myllylahti and Dr Greg Treadwell with their take. Guests: Dr Merja Myllylahti and Dr Greg Treadwell from the AUT’s centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy. Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode. Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:36:48

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Midweek - Breakfast battles, trust up, Welly woe, piggybacking on others' content

4/15/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:25:57

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Reporting Trump’s outrageous outbursts, Petrolhead & motoring media adapt to fuel fears

4/11/2026
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? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:46:48

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Midweek - Trump outburst outrage, Aussie soldier's fall from grace, Phillips doco revelations

4/8/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:22:00

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Midweek - BSA extends reach, a bad week for Big Tech, breakfast with Tova and an easter chocolate ban.

4/1/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:25:57

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Who’s winning the war, where the ad money goes, Chathams spending scandal

3/28/2026
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 here last year went online - and the vast bulk of the ended up offshore. What does this mean for our media and the onshore ad business? 29:54 Big spending blew a huge hole in the Chatham Islands council’s budget, prompting its high profile boss to quit his role and its expensively-renovated house. But there was no news outlet there to expose it until it was too late. Guests: Alex Radford, chair of IMANZ and media agency D3; Jonathan Milne, editor of Newsroom Pro. Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode. Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:40:28

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Midweek - media v Hegseth, TVNZ defamation win, SNL from USA to UK. peas piffle

3/25/2026
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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:20:06

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Reporting shortages & petrol panic, privacy v the right to speak out

3/21/2026
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 editor Jonathan Milne on reporting shortages without prompting panic - and the bigger picture of our oil dependence and the reality of energy supplies. 17:05 Damaging personal allegations about Labour leader Chris Hipkins spread widely in social media after a single post by his former partner, creating a dilemma for news media. 22:03 Media law expert Nicole Moreham on the legal limits on the right to tell your own story when it clashes with the privacy rights of others, defamation and the public interest. Guests: Nicole Moreham, professor of law at Victoria University of Wellington; Jonathan Milne, editor of Newsroom Pro. Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode. Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:39:01

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Midweek - political leader obsession, Trump v BBC, athletics aesthetic reboot, feijoas are bad

3/18/2026
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

Duration:00:23:41

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The polls that pressure politics, Country Calendar’s Coro Street-level staying power

3/14/2026
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? 16:12 The editor of The Post and Sunday Star Times - Tracy Watkins - on who calls the shots and pays the bills in its polling partnership with pollster Freshwater Strategies and lobby group Infrastructure NZ. 23:28 Country Calendar has passed 60 unbroken years on air - and survived the cull of other factual and current affairs shows that also rated well. How come? 26:48 Producers Dan Henry and Katherine Edmond on why Netflix would never make Country Calendar, its style, its funding - and putting women behind and in front of the camera. Guests: Tracy Watkins, Dan Henry and Katherine Edmond Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode. Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:38:21