Full Breakdown
New Zealand Moves to Abolish Broadcasting Standards Authority
5/6/2026, 4:30:33 AM
Decision to Repeal the BSA
Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith announced that legislation to repeal the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) will be drafted in the coming months. The BSA will remain operational only until the repeal law passes. Goldsmith said the authority was built for a “rapidly disappearing” broadcasting environment and that “only a small portion” of today’s content falls under its remit.
Context: Media Landscape Shift and BSA Controversy
Created under the 1989 Broadcasting Act, the BSA historically regulated television and radio. In recent months it sought jurisdiction over online platforms, notably the live talk-back programme on The Platform, prompting a complaint about “unacceptable racist comments.” The authority concluded it could consider the complaint because the transmission met the Act’s definition of “broadcasting,” while stating it lacked jurisdiction over on-demand services such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and user-generated livestreams.
Official Positions
Goldsmith emphasized that “greater industry self-regulation is the most practical way to level the playing field across platforms.” He expects the New Zealand Media Council, funded by major media organisations, to become the primary regulator for journalism. The Media Council’s governance board chair, Brook Cameron, pledged to work with the government and to maintain a “robust process for receiving and determining complaints” to preserve public confidence.
Opposition and Criticism
Opponents described the BSA’s expansion as an overreach. NZ First leader Winston Peters called the move “bordering on fascist,” while ACT MP Laura McClure labeled it a “blatant power grab” and a “massive win for free speech.” ACT leader David Seymour also urged dismantling the BSA, noting its attempts to stretch a law designed for “rabbit-ear TVs” over podcasts and livestreams.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Paul Goldsmith, Media and Communications Minister
- “Kiwis no longer rely on a handful of TV channels. They choose what they watch and listen to from a vast range of platforms.” — Laura McClure, ACT MP
- “The Media Council has a robust process for receiving and determining complaints to ensure the public has confidence in a fair and independent NZ media sector.” — Brook Cameron, Media Council Governance Board Chairman
- “bordering on fascist” — Winston Peters, NZ First leader
Outlook
The government will introduce a repeal bill, after which the Media Council is expected to assume primary regulatory responsibility for journalism. The transition will be monitored for its effect on content standards, audience trust, and the broader debate over media regulation in the digital age.
