The announcement comes from Māori media funder Te Māngai Pāho, and will see Te Karere‘s funding reduced from $2.7 million to $1 million over the 2025/26 funding around.
The Hui has received no funding allocation.
A total of $11 million has been allocated for the next funding year, with much of it going to regional news services. They are contracted to produce weekly news stories, articles, audio for radio, and news live events.
Whakaata Māori has received $1.5 million to establish a National News Hub to manage news content and access for other platforms and publishers.
Te Māngai Pāho kaihautū Larry Parr said the move will encourage collaboration and highlight regional journalism.
“We are committed to working alongside all providers to ensure a smooth transition to this new media landscape. While there are still challenges facing the sector, we believe we are better positioned to deliver news and current affairs which prioritises a Māori worldview and quality journalism.”
All funding decisions are subject to final negotiations between Te Māngai Pāho and applicants.
A full list of the funding decision are listed below.
National Hub
Te Iho – He Pātaka Kōrero, Māori Television Service for the establishment of the National News Hub, up to $1,500,000.
News / Supplementary Roles
Te Karere, Television New Zealand for TVNZ 1, up to $1,000,000.
3 x Supplementary Roles for ManiaTai Limited, up to $494,620.
Regional News
All Regional News providers will produce on a weekly basis; news stories, articles, audio for radio, and news live events, as negotiated in their funding contracts.
Pūkāea, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Mānuka Tūtahi for Tumeke FM and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000.
Aukaha – Te Tai Pūkōrero, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated for Tainui Live and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000.
Taioro, Te Reo Irirangi o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for Tūranga FM, Taioro Te Pātaka Oro website and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.
Te Kūkupa, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika Incorporated for Te Hiku Media and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.
Te Reo o te Uru, Te Reo Irirangi o Taranaki Charitable Trust for Te Korimako o Taranaki and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.
Tahu News, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for Tahu FM and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.
Current Affairs
Marae 2026, 35 x 29′, Pango Productions Limited for TVNZ, 80% te reo Māori, up to $1,500,000.
Te Ao with Moana, 30 x 26′, Black Pearl Limited for Whakaata Māori, 30% te reo Māori, up to $672,500.
Ruku, 10 x 45′, Te Noni Limited for Iwi Radio, Whakaata Māori and Pasifika TV, 100% te reo Māori, up to $600,000.
Mata Series 4, 4 x 30′ longform digital videos projects, 20 x 26′ long form interviews 24 x radio episodes, Aotearoa Media Collective for RNZ, 30% te reo Māori, up to $469,335.
