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.

Hosted and produced by Colin Peacock and Hayden Donnell

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China crisis, defending against defunding, school food fight

Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea promp big calls to bump up the budget for defence ASAP. Also - the super-heated headlines about factory-to-school lunches and we talk to the international outfit defending public broadcasters from de-funding.
New episode
The Herald on Sunday's front page last weekend.

Midweek: A messy ministerial resignation

Media go forensic on Andrew Bayly's ministerial resignation, the PM's ZB stumble, NZME's revealing annual results - & the real story of Golriz at PaknSave
Andrew Bayly speaks to media as he resigns from all ministerial portfolios

Surviving 2025 & following Australia’s lead, decoding Destiny, luring tourists

Surviving 2025 in the intertwined industries of media and advertising. Should our government follow Australia’s media policy - and beware of billionaires? Also: decoding Destiny and the tricky task of luring Aussie tourists.
Footage shared by Destiny Church's Brian Tamaki of the Te Atatū protest.

Midweek - Herald exodus & video plan, capital visions, attracting Aussies

Big names at the Herald lose their jobs in a major news rejig, a Wellington ginger group getting a helping hand - and attracting Aussies in 1962.
Herald publisher NZME is proposing a new news-based video streaming service.

Golden visas, risky recommended content, deep pockets for deep journalism

How plans for wealthy foreign investors hit the headlines this week - and how did paid-for propaganda end up on a major news website? Also: two business journalists want to make the most out of much-needed money for important investigative journalism
The government succeeded in getting wide media coverage of its plan to lure more rich foreign investors with new visas.

Midweek: D Seymour v Herald, Guy Williams & more

Comedian Guy Williams' Waitangi run-in with David Seymour - and the Act leader's pushback at the Herald; a new video channel proposal by NZME - and new government plans to help local media.
David Seymour speaks to media at Waitangi

Sudden surge of diplomatic drama & local news fightbacks

Trump’s alarmed the world with trade tariffs, turning off aid and proposing to take over Gaza. But New Zealand’s had its own diplomatic dramas in the news - with the media in the middle of them. Also: new news outlets popping up to push back fear of 'news deserts.'
TVNZ's 1News reporting the diplomatic differences with Kiribati last week.

Midweek: Foreign 'fake news,' name suppression, entertainers (mis)remembered

The 'fake news' from Israel that strained our relationship with the US - and a long-suppressed offender’s name finally comes out. Also: Tributes to Jonah Lomu and Marianne Faithfull which missed the mark - and two reports on transport which didn’t.
Winston Peters puts Ted Cruz on notice over the misleading Ha'aretz story.

Summertime - and the living’s uneasy for media

Summertime - and the living is easy, the old Gerschwin song says. But he didn’t have to keep Kiwis tuned in during the summer news drought. Meanwhile the outside world has changed a lot since Christmas - and the media industry’s problems here haven’t taken a holiday either.
Some of the stuff that made the news during the summer break.

Midweek: New year, new layoffs

NZME's plan to cut nearly 40 staff including some big names, a s spiky editorial response to a reader questioning coverage - and a belated Mediawatch award for misinformation in 2024.
Former Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman arrives at Auckland District Court to find out her fate after pleading guilty to shoplifting.

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