Join Hamilton’s leading business networking event on February 25 and hear from award winning media expert Phillip Quay, pictured, who will be joined by Waikato Times editor Jonathan MacKenzie along with business owner, entrepreneur and politician Himanshu (Ash) Parmar.

LinkedIn Local Hamilton is a top rated Waikato business networking event designed for professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to build authentic connections. This relaxed, social networking experience brings together Hamilton professionals, Waikato business leaders, and local entrepreneurs for meaningful conversations – without sales pressure.

LinkedIn Local Hamilton returns in 2026 to celebrate nine years of connecting professionals across the region.

The next event – The Changing Face Of Media – will be hosted by Ebbett on 25 February at their brand new car showroom at The Base – a modern venue designed to elevate the experience for attendees.

Daniel Hopper’s Story: Building Something Exceptional from the Start
One of the most important chapters in the LinkedIn Local Hamilton story is the vision and leadership of Daniel Hopper, a well known Hamilton business figure who founded the event and set its direction from day one.

Rather than following the traditional networking formula, he designed LinkedIn Local Hamilton to be relaxed, human, and community driven. The focus was on real conversations, genuine connections, and bringing people together in a way that felt authentic and inclusive.

Right from the outset, Daniel secured high profile speakers and strong community support. In its first year, LinkedIn Local Hamilton quickly gained momentum and was widely regarded as one of the largest LinkedIn Local events of its type in the world. What started as a local initiative rapidly became a standout example of how powerful people first networking could be.

Daniel’s leadership helped establish a clear message: this was not about transactional networking, but about creating a space where professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders could build meaningful relationships. That foundation continues to shape the event today.

His story is a reminder of something crucial:
‘A networking event grows when influential people believe in it – and share it’.

Daniel’s vision laid the groundwork for LinkedIn Local Hamilton’s ongoing success, helping it attract high calibre speakers, engaged audiences, and a reputation that now extends well beyond the Waikato.

Key Speaker: Phillip Quay – Hamilton’s Leading Media, PR & Digital Marketing Expert
Phillip Quay, a highly respected and award winning Hamilton journalist, PR strategist, and digital marketing specialist, is also the founder of the fast-growing business networking group NZ Business Connect.

Phillip Quay is known across New Zealand for his expertise in:
• Digital marketing and social media strategy
• Public relations and online branding
• Business storytelling and media communication
• Online visibility and Google ranking growth
• Global PR and international media assignments

As the founder of MediaPA and NZ Business Connect, Phillip has helped more than 200 New Zealand businesses grow their online presence through strategic PR, SEO driven content, and social media integration.

Phillip has delivered keynote presentations at major national conferences and is recognised as a leading voice in New Zealand digital marketing, social media education, and business communication events.

This event is ideal for anyone wanting to:
• Grow their Waikato business network
• Connect with Hamilton entrepreneurs and professionals
• Learn from a top New Zealand media expert
• Build authentic business relationships
• Improve their digital marketing and PR knowledge

Enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and genuine networking in a friendly environment, and kick off 2026 with the people who drive Hamilton forward.

Contact Phillip Quay / MediaPA
Phone: 0274 587 724
Email: phillip@mediapa.co.nz
Website: www.mediapa.co.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/MediaPA

Last week the BBC was in the news for its “systemic bias” in reporting unfairly on gender ideology issues as well as other topics. Its use of activist language, one-sided reporting, and the routine censorship of gender-critical stories was described in detail in a damning dossier and in a subsequent letter to the BBC from the UK registered charity Sex Matters.

In an article on the Resist Gender Education substack, Stuff breaks its silence with bias, hypocrisy and misinformation, Fern Hickson points out that the legacy media in New Zealand has been playing the same game for years. She says, “Its relegation of Helen Joyce to the black hole of silence during her more than two weeks in the country is just the latest iteration of its biased coverage.”

Ms Joyce, a best-selling author, journalist, and director of Sex Matters, recently toured New Zealand with the Women’s Rights Party and then with the Free Speech Union. Hundreds of New Zealanders attended the events and were impressed by Ms Joyce’s clear and reasonable positions on women’s rights, free speech, and child safeguarding.

Of the 13 media interviews while Ms Joyce was in New Zealand, only one was with the legacy media – an article run in Stuff’s newspapers across the country by journalist Philip Matthews, titled “Helen Joyce – a visitor from Terf Island”.

Although Matthews’ article was badly flawed, Ms Hickson says at least it has broken that silence. “If NZ’s legacy media wants to save itself from the huge embarrassment currently swirling around the BBC, it will start addressing both sides of the transgender issue, honestly and even-handedly.”

She suggests that a good place to start could be a story about the lengths women have to go to when meeting, to protect themselves from out-of-control trans activists.

The Women’s Rights Party has previously written about the lengths the Party has to go to ensure women are safe to meet without disruption from protesters. Misogyny behind attacks on women’s rights campaigners and women politicians - Women's Rights Party

Co-leader Jill Ovens described how in July last year, anti-women protesters entered Victoria University’s Rutherford House where they planned to shut down a seminar organised by the Women’s Rights Party with Australian women’s rights advocate Sall Grover.

Ms Grover was at the time the defendant in the “Tickle v Giggle” case that hinged on the question of whether men, including men who identify as women, can be excluded from women-only on-line spaces. The Judge ruled that the complainant, who goes by the name Roxanne Tickle and identifies as a ‘transwoman’, was “unimpeachably a woman” under the Australian Sex Discrimination Act 2013. Ms Grover has since appealed the lower Court Judge’s decision to the Australian Federal Court.

Ms Ovens says the Women’s Rights Party got wind of the plan to shut down the meeting at Rutherford House and three hours before the meeting she emailed attendees of an alternative venue with an earlier start time. She also advised Wellington Police of the change of venue.

“We had a spy at Rutherford House who saw the protesters enter the venue with their loud hailers and whistles. Eventually they realised we were not going to meet there and they set about hunting us down.

“By that time, we were safely ensconced in the alternative venue where the doors had been locked and the heaters on. We turned the volume up on our speakers, and after about 20 minutes in the freezing cold outside, the protesters gave up and left.”

There was no sign of the Police.

Ms Ovens said the experience was very scary to many of the women who were attending the meeting as the memory of Auckland’s Albert Park was still fresh. Hundreds of angry protesters had pushed down barriers separating the protesters from those who came to Albert Park to hear women’s rights advocate Kellie-Jay Keen speak about threats to women’s rights.

No one was able to speak because protesters used very loud noise and mayhem to shut down the event. In the violence that followed, Ms Keen and her supporters had to physically force their way through the baying mob to exit via Princes Street where Police bundled her into a car. Later that night, Ms Keen left the country fearing for her life after death threats had been delivered to her hotel room. Police told her they couldn’t guarantee Ms Keen’s safety.

Ms Keen said on Twitter that day: “My activism is simple, we #LetWomenSpeak. Why does that make anyone so angry? We showed the world what happens to women when they try to speak. No one can pretend they don’t see the salivating misogyny.”

As a result of past experiences with anti-women protesters and women feeling unsafe to attend meetings because of this, the Women's Rights Party spent more than $1300 on security at two of the Helen Joyce events during her recent tour of New Zealand.

“This time we kept the venues of our events secret, and only advised ticket holders early on the day where the meetings were to be held,” Ms Ovens says. “We also told attendees they could come earlier than the advertised time so they could avoid potential protesters.”

This is especially an issue in Wellington where many of those attending are employed by the public service and fear their jobs could be threatened if protesters took their photos and publicised these on social media.

“This is despite the fact that employees and indeed all New Zealanders are protected by the Bill of Rights Act to free assembly and free speech,” Ms Ovens says.

She recently attended a conference at the Brighton Events Centre in the UK where the self-styled trans resistance group ‘Bash Back’, which has adherents here in New Zealand, caused hundreds of pounds in damage when they smashed four plate glass windows and spray painted the front of the venue.

“We arrived to a motley group of 21 protesters trying to intimidate the 2500 women on the first day of the FiLiA Conference,” Ms Ovens says. “They had the usual loud hailers and crude placards, which many of the women found upsetting, but their main aim was to send a message to organisations not to hire their venues to women's organisations or else there would be similar vandalism.”

As it happened, there were no protesters at the events organised by the Women’s Rights Party during the Helen Joyce tour because of the lengths the Party went through to protect women. She says the Party does not oppose peaceful protest, but there is a line where protesters incite violence and engage in vandalism to shut down women.

Members at NZME have sent an open letter to both the NZME board and Canadian billionaire James Grenon about his moves to replace the board and focus on ‘operational aspects’ of NZME.

The letter concentrates on the need for editorial independence to continue at NZME and asks James Grenon to make a public commitment to that independence, both now and in the future.

Isaac Davison, an E tū delegate for journalists at NZME says that while members are taking careful note of a number of positive comments from Mr Grenon about supporting quality journalism and career paths for journalists, they would like a clear, public assurance around editorial independence.

“That is the bedrock of our professional ethics and ability to do our job accurately and impartially in a democratic society.

“We hope that Mr Grenon – as well as the current board – will have no problem in committing to this basic principle and ensuring that it carries through any changes that occur as a result of this struggle for control at the governance level.

“Our members are just emerging from a recent re-structure of our newsroom. We need this basic assurance and stability as we adapt to new structures while striving to continue delivering on our mission to keep the public informed.”

Isaac notes that E tū Director Michael Wood has come in for some personal criticism from James Grenon after sounding a warning earlier this week about the potential for interference in editorial decision-making arising from the planned board take-over.

“We would prefer it if Mr Grenon did not try and shoot the messenger. Michael is our representative and the concerns he expressed reflect our concerns,” Isaac says.

Michael says E tū is pleased to get a bit more transparency from Mr Grenon about this significant development in our increasingly fragile media space.

“More information is needed however, and the members’ open letter has homed in on the key issue of editorial independence.

“I hope there will be a positive response on that – and I hope also that members’ requests to meet with both Mr Grenon and with the board bear fruit.

“Both need to hear more about what it is like to work as a professional journalist in our current environment and the impact of ever-increasing attacks on independent, ethical journalism, especially in recent months following the political changes in the United States. It is not quite the ‘sheltered enclave’ that Mr Grenon evokes.

“At the end of the day it is journalists who gather and deliver the news we depend upon for a functioning democracy and a healthy NZME. Understanding what journalists need to do that work vigorously and effectively is crucial to any discussion about the future of NZME. So, we very much hope that we can begin to have that dialogue in person.”

E tū is deeply concerned by comments made by NZME investor and billionaire James Grenon, that he wants to replace the board of directors with four new people – including himself.

Grenon owns a 9.3% stake in NZME, and has been a controversial figure in the media landscape.

NZME delegate Isaac Davison said the takeover proposal created significant uncertainty about the company's potential direction and the newsroom's editorial independence.

"Our top priority is preserving the impartiality of our journalism and the independence of the newsroom," Isaac says

“E tū journalists follow a code of ethics which includes a commitment to reporting and interpreting the news with "scrupulous honesty" and without fear or favour.

“While the intentions of the potential new board members remain unclear, we are concerned about an apparent record of backing news ventures which lack transparency.

“Further, NZME is in the last stages of a major change process which has had a profound impact on staff morale. We believe it is a time for consistency and stability rather than more uncertainty.”

E tū Director Michael Wood says that Grenon has a clear agenda to use NZME for his own interests.

“Mr Grenon clearly wants to use his financial clout to steer the editorial direction of one of New Zealand’s largest and most important media networks,” Michael says.

“While changes to media ownership in New Zealand are common, there is not any recent example of an extremely wealthy individual seeking to use an ownership stake to steer public discourse in the way that Mr Grenon, based on his track record, seems to be attempting.

“These concerns are heightened by a lack of transparency. When his initial stake in NZME was revealed, Mr Grenon indicated that he was not intending to make any further moves, yet within a week it has been reported that he is working closely with an NZ On Air board member and a high-profile businessman to take over the board.

“The idea that a shadowy cabal, backed by extreme wealth, is planning to take over such an important institution in our democratic fabric should be of concern to all New Zealanders.”

Michael calls on the current board to re-affirm its commitment to the editorial independence of NZME’s publications.

“While there is clearly a commercial process to play out, we must protect the rights of NZME journalists to report free from undue interference. We urge other shareholders to think carefully about the impact on the value and standing of NZME if they allow it to be turned into a plaything for the agendas of billionaires like Mr Grenon.”

E tū, the union for journalists and media workers, is sounding the alarm over the confirmation of an additional 30 job losses at NZME’s newsroom, as the wave of media cuts continues.

E tū Director Michael Wood says the latest redundancies are yet another blow to journalism in Aotearoa.

"Confirmation that a further 30 jobs will be lost from the NZME newsroom is part of a massacre of journalist capacity across the country," Michael says.

"It follows on from NZME closing 14 regional titles, major job reductions at Stuff, and successive rounds of cuts at TVNZ. Cumulatively, these reductions mean that the New Zealand media system has less ability to perform its core functions – holding decision-makers to account, providing information in response to natural disasters, covering breaking news, and undertaking long-term investigations that help to inform the public on important issues."

E tū members at NZME have engaged constructively, securing some changes to the original proposals that have preserved journalistic capacity. Michael says this underscores the value of union membership and collective action.

"The work of E tū members at NZME resulted in some changes to the original proposals, which have preserved some capacity, showing the value of union membership and engagement.

“However, we remain deeply concerned by the scale of these cuts and the clear signal from NZME that resources will be increasingly steered toward content that generates clicks. NZME must find a balance between generating short-term revenue and continuing to invest in high-quality journalism that drives long-term value."

Responsibility also lies squarely with the Government, which has failed to act on the systemic issues affecting the sector.

"Primarily, though, this further round of cuts can be sheeted home to a Government that is missing in action," Michael says.

"The sector continues to suffer because the content it produces gets used by social media platforms that do not contribute to its costs while earning advertising revenue from it. Last year, the Government committed to advancing the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill to address this issue, but now appears to have wilted in the face of lobbying from big overseas corporates."

E tū is calling on the Government to take urgent action to support our local media.

"In the wake of yet another round of cuts, it is more evident than ever that the Government needs to wake up and take action so that we preserve a media system that supports New Zealand’s democracy."

In 2024, the media landscape has been described as bleak, with major headlines focusing on the closure of Newshub and significant cutbacks for TVNZ.

These developments have raised concerns about the future of traditional media roles, reflecting broader industry challenges associated with shifting audience preferences towards digital platforms and customised, OnDemand content.

It’s prompted academics and former industry professionals now teaching at Ara’s New Zealand Broadcasting School (NZBS) to be inundated with interview requests about the supposed demise of journalism.

But the current demand for NZBS journalism grads belies that narrative.

Right now, the current cohort are securing industry placements that both complete their studies and springboard them into their media careers. And the NZBS reports that opportunities abound for their highly skilled multi-media professionals who are industry ready.

Placement Lead Simon Tuck said it’s the time of year when "the rubber hits the road".

"This is the time our learners truly realise their dream of getting into their chosen field. In recent weeks we’ve been delighted to host industry here as they seek to recruit our talented learners into their many and varied businesses."

Tuck said mainstream outlets NZME, Sky, Stuff, TVNZ, Radio New Zealand, MediaWorks and Newstalk ZB as well as smaller or more niche outlets had been in touch about placements.

"Stuff is an exciting new outlet for us. We’ve enjoyed having them on campus as we’ve built our relationship with them this year and in recent weeks they’ve interviewed 30 learners across our journalism, radio and screen streams for the multiple places they’re offering," he said.

"They're looking for cross-stream capable journalists with strong audio and video skills. Their feedback was that they were ‘spoiled for choice’ and if they could take everyone, they would."

Second-year journalism tutor (and foundation Newshub staffer) Jeff Hampton’s long-held view that there would always be demand for quality content creators was ringing true.

"Whether it’s video audio or written, journalism is simply being delivered in a different form. There’s always going to be a need for journalism and there will always be work for people who can produce quality content," Hampton said.

"We’re seeking to be ahead of trends here at Broadcasting School, adopting technologies like our Mojo kits, to ensure our graduates have relevant skillsets.

NZBS Programme Leader Karen Neill said another example was the newly devised "Extravaganza", this year’s final project for Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications learners.

Industry experts had been involved alongside learners in the creation of the on-screen, on-air and online offering due to go live next month. Communications experts and content creators from several production houses and agencies had also had input.

"Our learners are being challenged to come up with an audience-grabbing product that crosses all information platforms. Be it audio, visual, online or social media - developing this crossover skillset makes them equipped for everything," Neill said.

Industry guests will be invited to observe the live Freeview broadcast showcasing the learner-led approaches to news in a multimedia context.

At the end of the Extravaganza season the next step for NZBS students will be their industry placements. Records show 93% of NZBS journalism graduates will continue in their chosen field following their first foray into the workplace.

As he prepares to oversee the next cohort’s initial industry experience, Tuck sees no reason that will change.

"We find that our industry partners who invest in the future of our graduates with paid placements do their all to look after them. That’s been the case even amid the challenges of 2024," he said.

"With all this in mind, I can only encourage anyone who has a desire to be among New Zealand’s next content creators to apply to study at Ara. We’re ready to foster their talent and continue to work to satisfy industry demand."

Statistics show over half the global population spends more than 2.5 hours daily on social media, UC research has looked at the psychological drivers and concerns behind excessive social media use.

University of Canterbury lecturer Dr Kseniia Zahrai is the winner of the Early Career Researcher category in the Aotearoa Business and Economics Research Translation Competition for her research, Either You Control Social Media or Social Media Controls You.

“It’s not just in how much time we spend online, but in how social media exploits unconscious psychological triggers that fuel impulsive behaviour,” Dr Zahrai says.

Dr Zahrai and her research team recruited 389 social media users aged 18-44 for their study. “We found that users’ implicit attitudes, leading to fast, automatic reactions, are primarily responsible for their impulsive engagement with social media. Unlike explicit, deliberate thoughts, these unconscious attitudes often bypass conscious reasoning, leading to mindless scrolling and affecting user wellbeing.”

Dr Zahrai cited a participant’s statement: ‘It is something I do unconsciously, and I don’t think how it takes me away from the rest of my life’ as an example and says that “even high self-control isn’t always enough to resist, especially for users with positive implicit attitudes toward social media.”

“Former president of Facebook, Sean Parker, famously warned that ‘social media exploits human vulnerabilities.’ Our research adds to this concern by examining how deeply embedded, non-conscious attitudes drive excessive social media use – more so than most conscious efforts to control our habits,” she says.

“While time spent on social media is important, the way people are using it is also critical. Users can benefit from the use of social media by applying mindfulness techniques, reducing potential harm to wellbeing.”

She offers some practical advice for how to affect this change. “By shifting the focus to mindful, intentional engagement through minimising triggers, curating feeds with meaningful content, and setting intention-based goals, users can begin to rewire their unconscious behaviours.”

Dr Zahrai says artificial intelligence (AI) can also help users understand and change their behaviours. “With advanced analytics, AI can identify usage patterns and trigger points that users may not consciously recognise. AI-powered systems can also provide personalised self-control strategies, tailored to each user’s behavioural profile.”

The study’s findings emphasise the need for deeper digital literacy and awareness of how platforms can exploit user behaviour.

“Policymakers must ensure transparency in social media algorithms and protect vulnerable users, especially children and adolescents, from potential harm,” Dr Zahrai says.  

The study, co-authored by Professor Ekant Veer, Professor Paul Ballantine, Associate Professor Herb de Vries, and Professor Girish Prayag is unmistakable in its message that ethical engagement matters, “Brands that focus on creating valuable, mindful interactions with users, rather than exploiting automatic reactions, will build lasting relationships with their audiences and enhance customer loyalty.”

E tū, the union representing TVNZ workers, is raising significant concerns over the broadcaster's proposed sweeping changes, which could reshape not just TVNZ, but New Zealand’s wider media landscape.

E tū Negotiation Specialist, Michael Wood, has called for full and meaningful engagement as these proposals are considered, emphasising the potential risks to both TVNZ and the country’s media ecosystem.

“The scale of change being proposed here is enormous,” Michael says.

“This is not just a transformation within TVNZ, but one that could have far-reaching consequences for the entire media sector. These changes must be worked through with great care, and E tū and its members will accept nothing less than genuine engagement from all parties involved.”

While E tū acknowledges the necessity of shifting towards a digital future, the union is deeply concerned about the potential loss of TVNZ’s core strengths, particularly its skilled staff and capacity to deliver in-depth, quality journalism.

“We support the move towards a more digital service, but this must be done in a way that preserves the essence of what makes TVNZ valuable. It’s crucial to safeguard the ability to investigate and report on the stories that matter.

“Cutting back on text-based content while simultaneously removing successful video programmes like Fair Go and Sunday raises serious questions about the direction of these changes. If TVNZ is serious about a video-first strategy, they need to invest – not simply slash resources.”

A key concern is the proposal to outsource jobs, potentially overseas.

“Outsourcing jobs threatens TVNZ’s most important asset – skilled, experienced staff, with deep institutional knowledge. Outsourcing not only risks losing these skills but can lead to higher costs and a weaker organisation. We’ve seen this play out in other sectors, and it’s not a path we should go down.”

E tū is also questioning the Government’s role in pressuring TVNZ to deliver a dividend during such a pivotal moment for the organisation.

“It’s difficult to understand why the Government would maintain pressure for a dividend in this environment. TVNZ is undergoing major upheaval, and it would be wise for the Government to reconsider its expectations while these significant changes are being negotiated.”

E tū members will hold a union meeting on Thursday to fully discuss the proposals and decide the next steps.

A Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll has revealed that 55% of New Zealanders are opposed to taxpayer money being used to fund struggling private media companies, with just 29% in support.

Labour voters were the only demographic in support of media bailouts (+7% net support), while those aged under 40 were split evenly. A majority or plurality in every other demographic opposed taxpayer-funded media bailouts.

Voters were asked “You may have heard reports about the proposed closure of Newshub. Would you support or oppose taxpayer money being used to fund struggling private media companies?” The full polling report can be found here.

Commenting on the poll, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:

“It comes as no surprise that taxpayers are unwilling to reach into their own pockets to fund media organisations that they are increasingly becoming disillusioned with.

“We know from our previous polling that taxpayer-funding of private media undermines perceptions of independence. With trust in the media already in free-fall, the worst thing the government could do is step in with taxpayer money to bail them out.
 
“All businesses must deliver a service of value to get money from their customers. If the government stumps up with taxpayer-money there is no incentive for these companies to change their business model into something consumers trust and value more.
 
“We should allow those companies that aren’t providing a service people want to fail so that new companies who do create value can take their place.”

ASB is seeking expressions of interest from media agencies, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) process kicking off today as the bank looks to move from a multi-agency model to a single provider across all media services.

ASB CMO Helen Fitzsimons says strong agency support and expertise will be key as the bank evolves to meet changing customer needs and expectations.

“It’s an exciting time at ASB, with a transformational agenda unlike ever before in our history. As part of this transformation, we want to mature our marketing capability through people, data, and technology to be best-in-class and deliver end-to-end marketing solutions for our customers and future customers.

“In support of these ambitions, we’re looking to consolidate our agency roster and appoint a single media agency partner. With full view of our marketing funnel, we’re looking for a partnership that will challenge and support ASB to continually improve its capability, efficiency, and performance, ensuring ASB and its customers stay one step ahead, now and in the future.”

The bank is looking for a media agency partner to deliver all media services across all media channels including strategy, planning, buying, analysis, and reporting. Creative services are not included in the RFP.

Expressions of interest should be directed to John Small, ASB Group Procurement, (John.Small@asb.co.nz) by no later than 12pm, Friday 12 May 2023.

The new agency contract will be effective from 1 September 2023.

https://www.veed.io/view/311a7da8-f39b-43b4-804b-e5d1c53a735a

Most New Zealanders believe that government funding for private media companies undermines media independence, reveals a new poll commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union.

The scientific poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was carried out by Curia Market Research and found that 59% percent believe the funding undermines media independence, compared to just 21% who believe it doesn't. Twenty percent were unsure.

Crucially, the belief that media funding undermines independence is strong among supporters of all major political parties, including Labour and the Greens.

The poll also asked New Zealanders whether they supported the Public Interest Journalism Fund, which sees $55 million in government funding allocated to media for "public interest" reporting projects. Forty-four percent of New Zealanders oppose the fund, versus just 24% in support. Thirty-two percent were unsure.

Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:

"Mainstream media outlets have been at pains to deny any suggestion that government funding undermines their independence. But they can no longer deny that the funding has undermined the perception of independence."

"It's now clear that the Government's push to directly fund private media outlets is deeply misguided, if not dangerous. Instead of enlightening New Zealanders with high-quality journalism, the funding risks driving audiences towards fringe information sources that may be perceived as more independent."

"This polling should also be a wake-up call to the media companies themselves. As tempting as it must be to accept Government handouts, in the long term it may serve to alienate readers who expect journalists to report from a position of independence."

"On the flipside, this poll suggests there is a real opportunity for media outlets who differentiate themselves by refusing the funding. We're already seeing smaller outlets such as The NBR, The Platform, and interest.co.nz capitalise on this opportunity by loudly advertising the fact that they are fully privately-funded."

"At the Taxpayers' Union, we share concerns that government funding undermines media independence. For example, an explicit goal of the Public Interest Journalism Fund is to promote a 'partnership' interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Whether media outlets admit it or not, taking the money is a direct challenge to editorial independence on highly contentious debates such as co-governance."

"More broadly, it's impossible to ignore the fact that media bosses have a multi-million-dollar interest in electing a Government that will protect their funding. The risk that this will influence the way issues are reported, or what issues are reported, is obvious."

"A simple immediate test for media independence will be whether they are willing to report on this poll."

The Taxpayers' Union is tracking grants paid from the Public Interest Journalism Fund here, and is running a petition challenging media outlets to repay money received from the Fund and to adopt new policies to decline future government funding at www.taxpayers.org.nz/media_funding.