The Government has agreed to progress with disestablishing the Broadcasting Standards Authority and investigate self-regulation options.
Media and Communications Minister, Paul Goldsmith said that while New Zealand’s media landscape had changed dramatically, regulatory settings had not kept up.
“The BSA regime was designed for a broadcasting environment that is rapidly disappearing. Today, audiences move seamlessly between traditional broadcasting, on‑demand services, podcasts and online platforms – yet only a small portion of that content is subject to the BSA’s regulatory oversight. It doesn’t make sense,” said Mr Goldsmith.
The Minister said the current framework can create inconsistencies and unfair outcomes for media providers, with similar content treated differently depending on whether it is broadcast live or accessed on demand.
“Print media already self regulates through the New Zealand Media Council, and some broadcasters have opted to be part of it. Our expectation is the media council will become the primary regulator for journalism,” he said.
“I’m confident that greater industry self-regulation is the most practical way to level the playing field across platforms, and can provide an appropriate level of oversight to maintain ethical journalistic standards and audience trust.
“Several other pieces of legislation, including the Criminal Procedure Act, make reference to the BSA and other relevant provisions contained in the Broadcasting Act 1989. Legislation to repeal the provisions relating to the BSA will be drafted in the coming months. The BSA will continue in its role until legislation is passed into law.”
In a statement following the Minister’s announcement, BSA Chief Executive Stacey Wood said the Authority had been saying the Act was no longer for purpose for more than 15 years.
“Our primary interest has been to ensure the public continue to have access to accurate, reliable media content, and a regulator they can turn to if they think public standards are breached,” said Ms Wood.
“It has never been about protecting our existing operating model, and it was clear any future regulator would need to look different to the existing BSA.
“It has always been for lawmakers to decide if the Authority plays a role in any future regulatory setup. We’ve worked with officials and provided advice on various proposals over the years.”
Ms Wood said she was proud of the role the BSA had played for more than 37 years in maintaining standards in broadcasting.
“We await further advice about today’s announcement and stand ready to assist with the transition to new arrangements when the time comes,” she said.
