Summarised by Centrist
A leaked internal review has exposed deep problems at RNZ National, accusing the taxpayer-funded broadcaster of losing its way and failing to connect with mainstream New Zealand.
Written by former RNZ news chief Richard Sutherland, the scathing report says audience numbers are in “persistent decline” and blames internal complacency, niche programming, and a Wellington-centric worldview.
The flagship Morning Report programme is singled out. Sutherland calls for an urgent “cultural reset,” recommending the show be fully relocated to Auckland to shed its “political insulation” and Wellington bias.
He urges RNZ to replace on-air voices who “don’t meet audience expectations” and hire high-profile talent to signal ambition. “Some people shouldn’t be on air,” the report states.
Sutherland says RNZ should sharpen its tone, focus on the 50–69 age bracket, and stop treating live radio as a dying format. “Irrelevant things eventually get turned off,” he warns.
Staff interviews revealed “blame-shifting, low ambition,” and no clear vision of who they’re speaking to. While RNZ defends its digital strategy, the report insists traditional listenership still matters for a public broadcaster seeking influence and funding.
The report urges executives to ignore “noise from former staff and advocacy groups” and to act boldly: “RNZ’s job isn’t to keep insiders happy. It’s to serve the public.”
Read more over at The NZ Herald (paywalled)
Image: Dabbelju
