THE DECLINE OF RADIO NEW ZEALAND

Once regarded as a bastion of critical and independent journalism, Radio New Zealand is now in the midst of a ratings decline and a crisis of credibility. It only has itself to blame.


RADIO NEW ZEALAND, once regarded as a bastion of independent journalism and public accountability, is now mired in a crisis of credibility. Its decline is not merely institutional—it is ideological. In an era demanding moral clarity and journalistic courage, RNZ has instead chosen timidity, hedging its language and softening its stance on issues that demand unequivocal condemnation. Nowhere is this more evident than in its coverage of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza.

Following the October 2023 attacks and Israel’s subsequent military campaign, RNZ’s reporting has been conspicuously cautious. While international bodies, including the International Court of Justice, have acknowledged that Israel is open to the charge of genocide, RNZ has failed to reflect this gravity in its coverage. Its refusal to name genocide—even as thousands of innocent people have been killed, hospitals bombed, and aid convoys targeted—betrays a deeper institutional bias toward the status quo and Western-aligned narratives.

An internal review commissioned by RNZ claimed the broadcaster had 'abided by its editorial policy' and met the standards of the Media Council and Broadcasting Standards Authority. But critics have rightly questioned the independence and scope of this review, noting its limited methodology and the close affiliations of its author with RNZ itself. Independent voices, including journalists and academics, have accused RNZ of whitewashing the conflict, failing to challenge Israeli war narratives, and ignoring the mounting evidence of war crimes.

Marilyn Garson of Alternative Jewish Voices has observed:

'Balance, says RNZ, is found in a diversity of opinions – but human rights are not an opinion. Genocide is not an opinion. It is a fact, living, ongoing nightmare and a crime against humanity. 86% of the world’s genocide scholars recognise genocide in Gaza. Somehow, RNZ hasn’t heard about it.'

This is not an isolated failure. RNZ’s broader editorial posture has grown increasingly risk-averse, particularly on issues of imperialism, indigenous sovereignty, and economic inequality. Its coverage often mirrors government talking points, rarely interrogating the ideological underpinnings of policy or the structural violence embedded in New Zealand’s political economy. The result is a public broadcaster that no longer fulfils its democratic mandate—to inform, to challenge, and to hold power to account.

In a media landscape dominated by commercial interests and shrinking newsrooms, RNZ should be a counterweight: fearless, independent, and grounded in public service. Instead, it has become a cautious echo chamber, more concerned with reputational management than truth-telling. The decline of RNZ is not just a media story—it’s a democratic warning. When public broadcasters retreat from their role as watchdogs, the public loses one of its last lines of defence against propaganda and silence.