Summarised by Centrist
In a recent monologue, broadcaster Sean Plunket questioned why taxpayer funds continue to flow to left-leaning outlet The Spinoff, which he called “woke rubbish.”
His remarks follow news that The Spinoff received over $600,000 from NZ On Air this week for two digital projects – a podcast series titled Juggernaut and a show called 60 Seconds, reportedly about sex and relationships.
Plunket cited columnist Graham Adams’ claim that The Spinoff has received around $12 million in public funding over its lifetime. He argued that while The Platform relies on private support and faces a tough commercial landscape, taxpayer money continues to prop up left-leaning media outlets, including The Spinoff, which Plunket said are failing financially.
“This is a business that’s clearly struggling… and they get another lifeline from the wokesters at NZ On Air,” he said.
“Most of you either won’t see this content or would think it’s rubbish.”
Plunket contrasted The Spinoff’s government funding with The Platform’s refusal to seek public money, saying, “I want to sleep straight in my bed at night.”
He concluded by saying the idea that The Spinoff delivers factual content worthy of taxpayer support is “nonsense,” and that state-funded media should not push ideological agendas.
