Winston Peters made the comments on X. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The Foreign Minister is accusing the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) of "Soviet era stasi" censorship, following a decision to begin regulating podcasts and online media.
Winston Peters posted on social media saying it was "blatant overreach" by the BSA and "highly concerning", and demanded an explanation for their "recent outrageous action".
"Why does the Broadcasting Standards Authority think they can make up their own rules in secret meetings to act like some Soviet era stasi."
The Free Speech Union later put out a release about the decision to start "regulating podcasters such as Sean Plunket", saying it was a move "far beyond its legal mandate."
A complaint sent by the BSA toThe Platform has been published on the online platform's website, outlining concerns raised about allegedly "unacceptable racist comments".
The letter from the BSA states it "has found it has jurisdiction" to consider a complaint about The Platform's live talkback programme on the basis the transmission of the programme met the definition of 'broadcasting' in the Act.
The complaint itself relates to concerns about what the complainant alleges were "unacceptable racist comments" in The Platform's 22 July 2025 programme, the letter stated.
When the complaint was first referred toThe Platform, the online media organisation responded to the complaintant "You Plonker we aren't subject to the Broadcasting Standards Authority".
The letter then outlines the process to consider whether The Platform should be considered a broadcaster. The Broadcasting Act defines 'broadcaster' as a person who broadcasts programmes; 'broadcasting' as any transmission of programmes; and 'programme' as sounds or visual images, or combination of, intended to inform, enlighten or entertain, or promote the interests of any person, or promote any product or service.
Based on those definitions, it said it considered The Platform was broadcasting when airing the relevant content.
Free Speech Union (FSU) chief executive Jillaine Heather warned it was a "serious threat to free expression in New Zealand".
Heather explained Plunket had received a complaint from the BSA that his recent online comments breached broadcasting standards, asking whether the BSA was "claiming authority over internet content?"
She said Plunket was a veteran journalist and founder of The Platform who operates entirely online after repeated clashes with regulators and mainstream media.
"If the BSA is allowed to extend its reach into podcasts and online media, it will be policing speech it was never designed to regulate.
"This kind of mission-creep always starts with someone controversial. Today it's Sean Plunket. Tomorrow it could be anyone who asks the wrong questions."
Heather said the BSA had previously published material implying that freedom of expression itself can cause "harm", risking turning "regulators into censors, punishing opinions rather than protecting open debate."
The FSU called on Parliament to make clear the BSA had no authority over podcasts or internet content, and to ensure any future changes to broadcasting law were debated openly, "not smuggled in behind closed doors."
The BSA and Peters have been approached for comment.
BSA should be 'disbanded' - Plunket
Plunket, the chief executive and owner of The Platform, has called for the BSA to be "disbanded" following its decision to include his online broadcasts as part of its regulatory remit.
Plunket told RNZ he had received correspondence from the agency yesterday, saying they would be processing a complaint "as if I was a broadcaster".
"They appeared to have conducted a secret hearing or meeting where they redefined what a broadcaster was so that it would include The Platform."
He said the BSA told him it was a draft of the decision it had made, and "we'd like you to get involved in the complaints process."
Plunket said the BSA did not have jurisdiction over him "because it never has", saying the Act written in 1989 was for "television and radio". He also said the BSA levied broadcasters, which is how it funded itself, and "it's never levied me".
"I don't broadcast. I don't have a license to broadcast, and I now have numerous legal opinions that say it has acted outside its jurisdiction.
"It has ignored the will of Parliament, which considered this matter as to the jurisdiction of the BSA some time ago, and decided to leave things as they were."
Plunket said he had written to the BSA, saying he did not recognise it's jurisdiction.
"I will not take part in your bogus complaints procedure. I will hold the members of the BSA board individually and collectively liable for any damage that accrues to myself, personally or my company, financial or other as a result of their actions."
He also said he believed it had breached the Bill of Rights, "and I don't want anything more to do with them".
Asked whether there needed to be some form of regulation or monitoring, Plunket said there were laws in place that cover freedom of speech and defamation laws.
"We have numerous remedies under our civil and criminal code for people doing things or saying things that damage others."
He believed the BSA just wanted to "have a crack at me", and they had held a "kangaroo court hearing in secret" and presented him with the decision, which they'd made "completely illegally".
Plunket said he was seeking advice on how to respond.
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