TVNZ has published information about how its newsroom operates, as it focuses on transparency and inspiring trust in news.
Where TVNZ’s money comes from
TVNZ is state-owned but commercially funded. Our revenue is earned mainly through advertising, which generates over 95% of our income each year.
Editorial independence
News and Current Affairs (NCA) is a division within TVNZ and operates with editorial independence from the business. TVNZ cannot dictate content on news programmes and the NCA team is free to report on TVNZ business where appropriate.
TVNZ is also editorially independent from the government. That editorial independence is enshrined in the Television New Zealand Act 2003. This means no Minister can tell TVNZ what news to report or how to cover a story.
Final decisions on story selection, angle and treatment are made by NCA’s editorial leaders.
Responsibilities
As a lifeline utility, TVNZ has a Memorandum of Understanding with National Emergency Management Agency to broadcast official public safety messages before, during or immediately after events of life-threatening or national or regional significance (e.g. a tsunami).
Funding of news
Our news operation is funded by TVNZ through advertising revenue. However, two news programmes currently receive funding from crown entities – Q+A (NZ on Air) and Te Karere (Te Māngai Pāho). Online youth news platform Re: also has some content funded by NZ on Air.
This funding is contestable, not guaranteed and we must apply for it annually.
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