The Government has announced plans to disestablish the Broadcasting Standards Authority following a controversial ruling that extended the regulator's reach to online platforms.
Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said the decision comes as New Zealand's media landscape has changed dramatically while regulatory settings have failed to keep pace.
"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," Goldsmith said.
The announcement follows significant backlash over the BSA's landmark ruling in March that it had jurisdiction over digital talkback show The Platform. This marked the first time the regulator extended its reach to an online-only show, targeting a comment made by host Sean Plunket.
Plunket had argued he should not be subject to BSA oversight because he operates online rather than as a traditional broadcaster. "I'm not a broadcaster, I'm a webcaster," Plunket told Stuff when the complaint became public.
Political commentator Ani O'Brien described the news as "Great news. The BSA's attempted power grab will go down as one of NZ's worst examples of organisational suicide."
Goldsmith said the current framework creates inconsistencies and unfair outcomes for media providers, with similar content treated differently depending on whether it's 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.
The Minister expressed confidence that greater industry self-regulation would be "the most practical way to level the playing field across platforms" while maintaining ethical journalistic standards and audience trust.
Legislation to repeal BSA provisions will be drafted in coming months, with several other pieces of legislation requiring amendments as they reference the authority. The BSA will continue operating until new legislation passes into law.
The move represents a significant shift toward industry self-regulation in New Zealand's evolving media landscape.