The Best News Sources New Zealand

Discover the top news sources New Zealand for breaking news, politics, lifestyle, sports, business and more. This curated collection showcases some of the leading NZ publications like NZME, Stuff TVNZ RNZ.

The JMAD 2024 report concluded that news interest is at an all-time high compared to 46 other countries, yet trust in media is declining and people increasingly avoid them actively.

1. NZME

New Zealand media both shapes and is shaped by our society. NZME dominates local daily newspaper sales in New Zealand with The Dominion Post and The Press also publishing there, so its news coverage tends to be centrist in both political and stylistic approaches.

NZME's national reach is further strengthened by Newstalk ZB, the country's most-listened-to commercial radio station by audience share. NZME also serves regional and rural markets through its network of local community newspapers and digital offerings such as OneRoof for housing market trends and insights, and Viva Magazine providing premium lifestyle journalism.

NZME recently reported a 9% growth in audience across all of its news platforms and is visited weekly by over 850,000 Kiwis online. *

NZME has invested heavily in quality journalism by creating new senior roles within its newsrooms - such as Moana Tapaleao being appointed Pasifika Editor and Joseph Lose being appointed Kaupapa Maori Editor respectively. Morena These appointments will play an instrumental role in shaping NZME's local reporting style as well as mentoring and developing its 15 Te Rito journalism cadets.

Research by the Centre for Media, Journalism and Democracy indicates that trust in New Zealand's mainstream media continues to decline due to poor media literacy, increasing conspiracy theorist activity, decades of underfunding, and now having our largest news outlets owned by self-interested global corporations. It is incumbent upon the media industry itself to address this issue since public trust in media must exist for democracy to function successfully.

2. Stuff

Media in Australia is dominated by large publishing houses such as Stuff, which publishes several regional and city newspapers. Other local publications cover subjects like food, current affairs, gardening and home improvement as well as magazines that cater specifically to gay, lesbian, ethnic or rural communities.

New Zealand writers have written widely across a variety of genres, from fiction and children's literature to travel guides and history books. Patricia Grace and Albert Wendt have written novels set in New Zealand; Margaret Mahy won the Booker Prize for her works that explored aspects of Maori culture. Roger Hall wrote the classic play Erewhon.

In 2024, the Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy released a report which showed trust in news media was declining and more people were turning away from news sources altogether. Merja Myllylahti from AUT's research centre also showed media ownership was increasingly concentrated among fewer major players.

The AUT report queried whether New Zealanders were being exposed to enough variety in their news sources. Its authors were concerned about a few dominant owners monopolising the market, using their resources to reduce competition. They suggested establishing a regulatory body as oversight over this industry.

The New Zealand Press Council was then created, investigating newspaper editorial bias and inaccuracies while the Office of Film and Literature classified and censored movies, videos, books magazines and video games. Furthermore, the Press Council created the NZ Literary Translation Fund with an aim of expanding Kiwi readers' access to translated New Zealand works; supporting New Zealand translators through National Library administration of this fund.

3. The Press

The Press is a daily newspaper published from Christchurch that offers coverage of news in New Zealand and worldwide, including national, local, business, opinion and sport coverage as well as entertainment lifestyle and technology news. Led by editor-in-chief Mark Baker's editorial team and boasting an immense following both locally in Christchurch as well as nationwide.

This paper has an outstanding reputation for fair and balanced reporting, and its reporters are widely respected for covering stories in depth. Additionally, its online version has become an engaging destination for readers - although some critics have noted its publication of articles which could potentially incite violence against people or property.





Press primarily covers regional news in Canterbury, Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast areas as well. They have an exceptional local sports coverage as well as being known for covering Christchurch City Council elections in particular. Furthermore, it provides invaluable stockmarket and sharemarket analysis.

Online journalism from this newspaper is supplemented by its print edition, which remains the preferred news source for many older generations across the country. Unfortunately, readership has fallen significantly over the last decade.

The Press boasts only four reporters across its website, TV, and radio coverage - one for TVNZ's Olympics coverage alone! While having such limited staff does have its advantages, competing against TVNZ's professional news staff can prove difficult - TVNZ deploying 12 staff for Olympics coverage alone is proof enough of that! Stuff couldn't match TVNZ in producing such detailed bulletins on an economically feasible budget as seen at Stuff.

4. RNZ

New Zealand boasts an expansive and dynamic media sector that spans print, television, radio and online platforms. New Zealand ranked 15th on the 2014 RSF Press Freedom Index.

According to a survey from AUT Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy, New Zealanders trust RNZ as their most reliable news source. The national broadcaster operates multiple nationwide networks - such as National and Concert - as well as an AM Network which relays Parliamentary proceedings. Morena Furthermore, there is an overseas shortwave service known as RNZ Pacific that also broadcasts regularly across its coverage area.

Morning Report with Guyon Espiner and Susie Ferguson offers listeners authoritative coverage of local and global events. Checkpoint provides weekly drive-time news coverage on stories important to New Zealanders while Mediawatch looks closely at media landscape with insightful interviews and analysis of significant issues.

RNZ's website boasts an expansive library of video and audio content, from podcasts to live streaming of select RNZ events and programmes. Accessing it from any internet-enabled device is free.

Supplementary digital services available include the daily newspaper The Dominion Post, sports network Gameplan and various specialised podcasts. In addition, community radio stations as well as private ones may also be present.

RNZ produces weekly news bulletins in Tongan, Samoan and Pidgin languages as well as providing shortwave broadcasts featuring weekly news-and-music magazine programmes, cyclone watch coverage and sports bulletins to the Pacific islands. Furthermore, its shortwave service in this region also broadcasts a cyclone watch service as well as sports updates. Furthermore, their websites feature extensive news analysis. Their broadcast signals can also be heard on FM/AM transmitters throughout New Zealand as well as Sky Digital TV channel 421, Freeview Satellite Channel 50 and Optus satellite.

5. Radio NZ

RNZ is New Zealand's public radio network, covering news and current affairs with national stations RNZ National, Concert and the AM network which relays Parliamentary proceedings, as well as its overseas shortwave service RNZ Pacific. morena good morning Journalism at RNZ remains free from government or commercial influence with research being conducted into their performance by The Centre for Journalism Media & Democracy.

Apart from its digital offerings, WNBR provides multiple news programs and podcasts including Morning Report, Checkpoint, Nine to Noon and The Nation with Kathryn Ryan. Canvas magazine programs explore pop culture and contemporary lifestyle through in-depth features, cultural critiques and personal narratives.

This website offers comprehensive coverage of local and international news, sports, entertainment, business, technology life & style and travel. Additionally, the site hosts community news & opinion pieces as well as free access - offering subscription options for premium content such as podcasts & video articles for users looking for something extra.

Computerworld keeps up-to-date with the latest in tech, with particular focus on local markets. Their team of journalists are committed to producing top-quality content through detailed reporting and analysis.

New Zealand literature scene is vibrant and flourishing, with writers drawing inspiration from its natural beauty and cultural history. Novelists such as Patricia Grace, Albert Wendt and Maurice Gee have established themselves as literary greats while children's authors like Margaret Mahy are internationally-recognized authors. Additionally, John Buckley and Katherine Mansfield are esteemed poets while other writers such as Keri Hulme and Witi Ihimaera have won recognition for addressing Maori society in modern day settings.