Radio New Zealand, commonly known as RNZ, is New Zealand’s public service broadcaster and a Crown corporation, which was established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates a news and current affairs network, RNZ National, and a classical music and jazz network, RNZ Concert, with full public funding from NZ On Air. Since 2014, the organization has been focused on transforming RNZ from a radio broadcaster to a multimedia outlet, increasing the production of digital content in audio, video and written form.
The organization plays a central role in New Zealand’s public service broadcasting. The New Zealand Parliament fully funds its AM network, which is partly used to broadcast parliamentary proceedings. According to the Civil Defense Emergency Management Act of 2002, the RNZ performs the function of a “rescue service” in emergency situations. It is also responsible for an international service (known as RNZ Pacific); this is broadcast to the South Pacific in both English and Pacific languages via the Pacific Shortwave Service.
History
The first radio broadcast in New Zealand was made on November 17, 1921 by radio pioneer Professor Robert Jack. Government-funded public radio in New Zealand was historically provided by the Radio Broadcasting Company between 1925 and 1931, the New Zealand Broadcasting Council between 1931 and 1936, the National Broadcasting Service between 1936 and 1962, the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation between 1962 and 1975, and the state-owned Radio New Zealand between 1975 and 1995. The organization paid special attention to training its staff in accepted pronunciation until it began promoting local and indigenous accents in the 1990s.
As part of the privatization process undertaken by the Fourth National Government, the state-owned commercial radio stations were sold to private investors under the name The Radio Network in 1996, and the state-owned non-commercial assets (formerly known as Public Radio New Zealand) became the current Radio New Zealand.
The broadcaster is obliged to comply with the Charter and operating principles included in the Radio New Zealand Act, which is reviewed by the New Zealand Parliament every five years. On April 1, 2016, Royal Assent was granted to amend the Radio New Zealand Act 2016.
Mission:
- As an independent public broadcaster, the goal of a public radio company is to serve the public interest;
- Freedom of opinion and expression is the foundation of a democratic society, and as a public service broadcaster, a public radio company plays an important role in the exercise of these freedoms;
- A public radio company develops a sense of national identity by promoting tolerance and understanding, reflecting and encouraging ethnic, cultural and artistic diversity and expression;
- The public radio company provides reliable, independent and freely accessible news and information.
RNZ broadcasts on three nationwide networks; RNZ National, RNZ Concert and the AM network, which broadcasts Parliamentary proceedings. RNZ Pacific (formerly Radio New Zealand International or RNZI) is its overseas shortwave service, broadcasting to the South Pacific and beyond, while Radio New Zealand News provides comprehensive, up-to-the-minute news and information on current affairs. RNZ also allows for the archiving of broadcast material of historical interest.
It must also create and commission high quality programming based on research into public needs and balance programs with mass appeal and minority appeal. In achieving these goals, it must be socially and financially responsible.