The TAHI youth platform will be closing. Photo: TAHI
RNZ has announced it will close its TAHI youth platform as part of a number of changes to how the broadcaster covers music, arts and culture.
The long-running At The Movies radio show with Simon Morris will also end - although will continue as a podcast - while the Sunday Sampler show will also wrap up.
The number of presenters on RNZ's Culture 101 show on Sunday afternoons will also be cut from two to one.
In a statement, RNZ said the programming changes were part of a review into how it covered music, arts and culture, and how it reached audiences across platforms.
"We recognise that change is difficult for audiences and kaimahi. As a publicly funded media organisation, RNZ has a responsibility to assess and ensure all parts of the organisation are performing in a way that delivers for our audience and serves the public interest."
RNZ said TAHI had not reached the target audience enough to justify continuing to fund it, "despite the hard work of everyone involved".
RNZ interim head of content John Hartevelt said international platforms such as YouTube and TikTok had made it difficult to support dedicated youth channels.
"We are able to reach younger audiences by making our content freely available on those platforms and our focus will now be on making sure we continue to offer a wide range of vibrant content that fulfils our Charter requirements to reach audiences of all ages."
The final TAHI podcast will be released on 6 November.
The date for the final At the Movies radio show has not yet been confirmed.
RNZ said it was changing how it reviews films, with the introduction of multiple contributors, so more reviews could appear across RNZ's platforms.
"The At the Movies podcast feed will be retained as a showcase for the wide range of reviews on RNZ National."
The one-hour Sunday Sampler show - hosted by Tony Stamp - has also wrapped up, although The Sampler will continue within Music 101 on Saturday afternoons.
In the final change announced today, RNZ said Culture 101 will change from two presenters to one. It is currently hosted by Perlina Lau and Mark Amery.
"This is to bring the programme in line with its sister show Music 101 and to boost production of the show.
"The show itself will continue its important role profiling creativity and culture in Aotearoa, aiming for an even larger audience across platforms."
RNZ said it will also be confirming summer programming - including Matinee Idle - shortly.
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