Balance New Zealand recognises the important role that publicly funded media organisations play in informing the public and supporting a healthy democratic society. State broadcasting should provide accurate information, high-quality journalism, and coverage that reflects the full diversity of New Zealand communities.
This policy sets a clear direction for that support. Balance New Zealand will commit $50 million in multi-media funding, accessible through a contestable funding application grant system. This represents a significant reduction from the current taxpayer allocation, with the difference redirected to health efforts. Current state-funded entities will be encouraged to self-fund through commercial advertising and, where appropriate, privatisation.
When public funds are used to support broadcasting, New Zealanders should have confidence that the reporting they receive is balanced, factual, and free from political or ideological bias. At the same time, the sector should continue to provide opportunities for the next generation of journalists to enter the profession and develop their skills.
This policy outlines Balance New Zealand’s approach to reforming state-funded broadcasting while ensuring accountability, fairness, and long-term sustainability.
Balance New Zealand believes that publicly funded media should operate according to several key principles.
First, journalism funded by taxpayers should maintain a strong commitment to factual reporting and editorial balance. The public must be able to trust that news coverage reflects multiple perspectives and is based on verified information.
Second, state broadcasters should operate with a degree of independence while maintaining clear accountability for the way public funding is used.
Third, the broadcasting sector should help support the development of future journalists by creating opportunities for graduates to gain practical experience and enter the industry.
These principles will guide Balance New Zealand’s approach to reforming state broadcasting.
Publicly funded broadcasting plays a vital role in providing reliable information to the public. Its purpose is to deliver well-researched journalism, current affairs programming, and community coverage through television, radio, and digital platforms.
Public broadcasting should reflect the experiences, issues, and perspectives of communities across New Zealand. This includes reporting on national events, regional developments, and social issues that affect everyday New Zealanders — particularly the kind of public-interest content that the commercial market is unlikely to sustain on its own.
Under this policy, public funding will be focused where it is most needed. Content that is commercially viable should be sustained through commercial revenue, while taxpayer support is reserved for journalism and programming that serve the public interest and would not otherwise be produced.
Balance New Zealand believes that journalism within publicly funded media should be balanced, factual, and representative of a range of viewpoints.
Under this policy, clear expectations will be communicated to the leadership of organisations such as Radio New Zealand and TVNZ regarding the standards expected of publicly funded journalism. These expectations will include:
These standards will apply to the content that public funding supports. They are intended to strengthen public confidence in the integrity and fairness of state-funded journalism, not to direct the editorial judgement of journalists on individual stories.
Balance New Zealand will establish a single contestable fund of $50 million to support public-interest media. This fund will replace the current arrangement of separate direct allocations and overlapping content funds with one transparent, competitive system.
The fund will be platform neutral. Television, radio, online, podcast, and regional outlets will be eligible to apply on equal terms, with funding directed at content and outcomes rather than at the preservation of any particular organisation.
Applications may be made by any registered New Zealand media organisation, independent producer, or newsroom that meets the published eligibility and editorial standards. Existing state-funded entities will be eligible to apply on the same basis as private and independent applicants, with no guaranteed allocation. Grants will prioritise content that is unlikely to be sustained by the commercial market alone, including:
Grants will be awarded through a published, competitive application process, and the outcome of each round — including the amount awarded and the reasons for it — will be published. Multi-year grants may be offered for sustained programmes such as local democracy reporting, giving newsrooms the certainty needed to retain staff while remaining subject to performance review.
Balance New Zealand believes that public broadcasting must remain financially responsible while maintaining the ability to produce quality content. The $50 million fund represents a significant reduction from the current taxpayer allocation across state-funded broadcasting. The savings achieved will not be returned to general expenditure; they will be redirected to frontline health services, where the public benefit is clearest, and the need is most pressing.
Current state-funded broadcasters will be supported to transition toward self-funding through commercial advertising, sponsorship, subscription, and, where appropriate, partial or full privatisation. This transition will be managed rather than abrupt. During the transition period, these organisations will retain access to the contestable fund for genuinely public-interest content, will be given a reasonable timeframe to develop commercial revenue, and will have the continuity of essential services — such as emergency broadcasting — protected.
As part of this reform, Balance New Zealand will:
These steps are intended to ensure that taxpayer funding is used responsibly while maintaining a sustainable broadcasting sector.
Balance New Zealand recognises the importance of supporting the next generation of journalists.
To help graduates enter the industry, Balance New Zealand will establish internship pathways within funded broadcasting organisations. These programmes will provide postgraduate students in journalism, communications, and related fields with practical workplace experience, with priority given to regional and community reporting, where the skills shortage is most acute.
Through these placements, graduates will develop professional skills, gain real-world newsroom experience, and build the foundations for long-term careers in media. The emphasis will be on practical, frontline reporting rather than opinion or commentary. This initiative will help ensure that the industry continues to attract talented individuals and maintain strong professional standards.
Balance New Zealand believes that partially publicly funded broadcasting should serve the interests of all New Zealanders.
By promoting balanced journalism, strengthening financial accountability, and supporting the development of future journalists, this policy aims to ensure that state broadcasting remains trusted, sustainable, and representative of the communities it serves.
Through responsible reform, New Zealand can maintain a public broadcasting system that provides reliable information, encourages open discussion, and reflects the diverse voices that make up our nation.
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