New Zealand Media and Entertainment
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Predecessor | APN New Zealand, The Radio Network, GrabOne |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand |
Key people | Michael Boggs (CEO), Barbara Chapman (former chair), Steven Joyce (chair from 2025), Jim Grenon (director) |
| Products | Newspapers, radio broadcasting, digital platforms |
Number of employees | Approximately 1,300 (estimated from 15% cut of 200 jobs in 2020) |
| Parent | None |
New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) is a prominent media enterprise in New Zealand, encompassing newspaper publishing, radio broadcasting, and digital platforms. The company was created in 2014 through the integration of APN New Zealand (a division of APN News & Media), the Radio Network (previously known as Australian Radio Network), and GrabOne, a leading ecommerce website.
NZME’s assets include the flagship national daily The New Zealand Herald alongside regional newspapers such as Bay of Plenty Times, Rotorua Daily Post, Hawke's Bay Today, Northern Advocate, and Gisborne Herald. Its radio segment manages several significant networks, including New Zealand’s largest commercial station Newstalk ZB, as well as The Hits, ZM, Radio Hauraki, Flava, Coast, and Gold. NZME also holds exclusive rights to the iHeartRadio platform within New Zealand. Additionally, the company owns Tauranga-based SunMedia.
Establishment
In September 2014, NZME was formed by merging APN New Zealand (the local branch of APN News & Media), The Radio Network (formerly part of Australian Radio Network), and GrabOne, one of the country’s largest online marketplaces. This consolidation led to speculation regarding APN News & Media’s intentions, including a potential full divestment of its New Zealand operations or an initial public offering of up to 60% of its local assets on the NZX. Fairfax Media chose not to comment on possible acquisition interests at that time.
By June 2016, APN News & Media had completed the separation of NZME, which was then publicly listed on the New Zealand Exchange on 27 June 2016.
Failed merger with Stuff
During 2016, NZME and Stuff Ltd. proposed a merger of their New Zealand businesses. Under this plan, Stuff's Australian parent company, Fairfax Media, would receive a 41% ownership stake along with $55 million in cash. However, on 2 May 2017, the Commerce Commission rejected this proposal. Subsequent appeals to both the Wellington High Court and the New Zealand Court of Appeal upheld the rejection. Consequently, NZME and Stuff abandoned their merger plans in October 2018.
In November 2019, NZME initiated talks with Stuff’s new Australian owner, Nine Entertainment, aiming to acquire Stuff. Their proposal included a "Kiwishare" model designed to safeguard Stuff’s editorial independence and maintain local journalism standards.
On 11 May 2020, NZME submitted a second offer to purchase Stuff for NZ$1, emphasizing job retention amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine Entertainment promptly ended negotiations. NZME then sought an urgent injunction from the Auckland High Court to resume discussions; however, the court ruled against them on 19 May. Shortly thereafter, on 25 May, Nine Entertainment sold Stuff to its CEO, Sinead Boucher.
Workforce reductions in the 2020s
On 14 April 2020, NZME announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 15%, equating to around 200 job cuts, citing financial pressures from the coronavirus crisis.
In June 2024, the company proposed eliminating between 10 and 12 unfilled regional and community positions nationwide to redirect resources towards creating new regional roles.
By November 2024, NZME intended to cut 30 jobs and discontinue publication of 14 community newspapers, including titles like Hauraki-Coromandel Post, Katikati Advertiser, and Napier Courier.
In January 2025, further restructuring was announced involving a reduction of 14 reporting and 24 production roles. These changes aimed to consolidate newsrooms, focus on producing fewer but more specialized stories, and establish a dedicated print team. On 20 February, NZME confirmed layoffs among senior journalists while simultaneously launching a new free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel. Among those affected were political editor Claire Trevett, deputy business editor Grant Bradley, senior sports reporter Chris Rattue, and others.
At the end of February 2025, NZME reported a net loss of NZ$16 million for its fiscal year 2024. This followed a non-cash impairment charge of NZ$24 million related to its publishing assets.
2024 Acquisitions
On 5 March 2024, NZME completed the acquisition of Tauranga-based regional media firm SunMedia for an undisclosed amount. Established in 2001 by Claire and Brian Rogers, SunMedia's portfolio included the SunLive website along with the publications Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News, and New Farm Dairies. Subsequently, on 12 March, NZME secured ownership of the Gisborne Herald and its digital platform from the Muir family, having previously held a 49% interest through Wilson and Horton Ltd back in 1987.
Implementation of Artificial Intelligence
In August 2024, NZME confirmed the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies to produce editorials for the Weekend Herald and other outlets, including a piece focused on MMA fighter Israel Adesanya. After receiving criticism, editor-in-chief Murray Kirkness acknowledged that the AI-generated content "did not meet the expected standards" and emphasized the need for enhanced journalistic diligence.
Leadership Developments in 2025
On 3 March 2025, Canadian private equity magnate Jim Grenon, founder of TOM Capital and proprietor of alternative media platforms The Centrist and NZ News Essentials (NZNE), acquired a 9.3% equity stake in NZME. Shortly thereafter, Grenon proposed a complete overhaul of NZME’s board by replacing all existing members with new appointees, including himself.
By 21 March, NZME revealed ongoing negotiations with Stuff regarding the potential acquisition of several newspapers based in Wellington and the South Island to strengthen its OneRoof business's revenue streams and audience reach; however, these talks were temporarily suspended amid Grenon's takeover attempt.
On 26 March, Grenon suggested a compromise involving CEO Michael Boggs joining the board contingent upon Grenon becoming chairperson. He also put forward Des Gittings, Philip Crump, and Simon West as prospective directors.
In early May 2025, former National Party MP and cabinet minister Steven Joyce was nominated to join the board and expressed readiness to succeed Barbara Chapman as chair ahead of NZME’s annual general meeting scheduled for 3 June. On 2 June, Joyce officially replaced Chapman as chairperson while Grenon was appointed as a director during the same meeting.
Publishing
NZME’s publishing arm reaches approximately 2.1 million individuals weekly across print editions, desktop websites, and mobile applications. This division encompasses the national New Zealand Herald group, six additional daily newspapers, 23 non-daily publications, plus more than 20 digital platforms including websites and mobile apps.
New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald, NZME’s flagship publication, serves as Auckland’s daily newspaper and stands as New Zealand’s highest-circulation title. Its circulation peaked at over 200,000 copies in 2006 and was approximately 162,181 by December 2012. The primary distribution region covers Auckland and extends into northern parts of the North Island such as Northland, Waikato, and King Country.
Prominent titles include New Zealand Herald, Weekend Herald, and Herald on Sunday. The newspaper offers various supplements addressing health (Be Well), travel (Travel), lifestyle (Viva), motoring (Driven), real estate (Herald Homes), entertainment (TimeOut, Canvas), and media analysis (Spy).
Regional Newspapers
NZME’s key daily regional newspapers feature titles such as The Northern Advocate, Bay of Plenty Times, Rotorua Daily Post, Hawke's Bay Today, along with the longstanding Whanganui Chronicle, which dates back to 1856.
Additionally, NZME publishes a wide range of weekly community newspapers including Bay News, Katikati Advertiser, Te Puke Times, Coastal News, Waihi Leader, Hamilton News, Country News, Taupo & Turangi Weekender, Manawatū Guardian, Whanganui Midweek, and Horowhenua Chronicle.
In March 2024, NZME broadened its regional media presence by acquiring SunMedia along with its assets such as the SunLive website, plus publications like Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News, and New Farm Dairies. During that same month, NZME also obtained full ownership of the Gisborne Herald along with its online platform.
Collaborative Publications
NZME holds joint ownership of the Chinese New Zealand Herald. In 2019, investigations revealed that the website and its editorial content were managed under the direction of the state-controlled China News Service, which is affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, operating within frameworks of government censorship and propagandistic influence.
In June 2023, NZME joined forces with Australian media firm Are Media to introduce a digital-only edition of the New Zealand Listener, accessible via the The New Zealand Herald online platform.
Radio
NZME Radio traces its origins back to 1996, initially established as The Radio Network when commercial radio assets were divested from Radio New Zealand during the free-market initiatives of the fourth National government. This transition included talk stations such as Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport, alongside music networks like Classic Hits and ZM. The entity was renamed The Radio Network and subsequently integrated into NZME in 2014, adopting the NZME Radio brand.
Programming is predominantly broadcast from Auckland Central studios, with localized shows airing on Newstalk ZB in Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The Hits features region-specific breakfast and morning segments. Auckland's Mix 98.2, which was relaunched in 2014 after previous iterations including Radio i and Easy Listening i, was rebranded as Gold in 2020. Furthermore, NZME manages Gore’s independently owned station Hokonui Gold through a long-term leasing agreement.
Historical Background
The commercial arm of publicly owned Radio New Zealand was privatized in 1996 as The Radio Network, simultaneously acquiring Prospect Media Limited along with its eleven stations based in Auckland and Hamilton. Stations such as Radio Hauraki and Easy Listening i in Auckland were preserved and expanded into nationwide networks, while other outlets including Hamilton’s Easy Listening i and The Breeze brands transitioned to former Radio New Zealand formats.
Ownership shifted to a consortium comprising US-based Clear Channel Communications and publisher Wilson & Horton. After Wilson & Horton was acquired by Ireland’s Independent News & Media and later sold to its Australian subsidiary APN, The Radio Network became a joint venture between APN and Clear Channel, thereby aligning with the Australian Radio Network.
The Radio Network House located in Christchurch suffered irreparable damage during the 2011 earthquake and was subsequently demolished by implosion in August 2012—the first instance of such demolition in New Zealand—carried out by specialists from the United States, establishing a model for future demolition projects.
Community Radio Network
Beginning in June 1998, The Radio Network operated the Community Radio Network (CRN), which preserved local station identities and live breakfast programming while centralizing the remainder of content production from Taupō. Notable presenters included Mark Bramley and Aaron Gillions.
On 1 December 2000, CRN stations were integrated into the Classic Hits network broadcasting from Auckland. Stations operating on both FM and AM typically assigned FM frequencies to localized Classic Hits content while AM frequencies carried Newstalk ZB programming; meanwhile, Radio Waitomo 1ZW and King Country Radio ceased broadcasting.
In April 2014, Classic Hits was rebranded as The Hits, maintaining stations such as Tokoroa's Radio Forestland, Taupō's Lakeland FM, Gisborne's 2ZG, Masterton's Radio Wairarapa, Wanganui's River City FM, along with South Island broadcasters including Radio Marlborough, Scenicland FM, 3ZE Ashburton, Radio Caroline Timaru, and Radio Waitaki Oamaru.
Current networks
NZME's radio stations have undergone numerous rebrandings and brand integrations over time. In 2004, Cool Blue 96.1FM Auckland was relaunched as Flava, while Jammin' Oldies Hawke's Bay transitioned to Coast. Early stations such as The Breeze in Auckland and Hamilton, 2QQ Palmerston North, and The Planet 97FM Nelson were all rebranded under the ZM banner. Classic Rock 96FM Hawke's Bay was succeeded by Radio Hauraki. Easy Listening i experienced multiple rebrands, eventually becoming Gold (105.4FM), which was later succeeded by iHeart Country.
By 2014, the Classic Hits network adopted the new name The Hits. Newstalk ZB and The Hits broadcast across 25 markets; ZM and Gold AM reach 19 markets; Radio Hauraki serves 16; Coast is present in 12; and Flava operates in 8 markets.