Media Insider: 26 predictions for New Zealand media in 2026 (and how our 2025 predictions fared)
Roll up, roll up. As we enter election year, with a new wave of shows and possible media company ownership overhauls, here are 26 predictions for New Zealand media in 2026.
Advertising legend Sir John Hegarty referenced a pertinent quote on LinkedIn this week: “There are no facts about the future.”
But 2026 might be the year when we start seeing some of the biggest changes in New Zealand media ownership in decades.
Publicly-listed Sky TV and NZME, private equity-owned MediaWorks/QMS and Are Media and privately owned Stuff all seem ripe for new investors and/or more ownership changes.
Even publicly owned TVNZ could be lined up for a possible sale, especially if the National Party campaigns on asset sales ahead of the 2026 general election.
Ownership and shareholdings of some of our biggest media companies form the backbone of this year’s 26 Media Insider predictions for New Zealand media.
But before we delve into those, how did we fare with our 25 hot takes in 2025?
Checklist on our 25 hot takes for ‘25
And so to the crystal ball and this year’s predictions:
And a bonus AI prediction for good measure – thanks to Chat GPT, which says: “In 2026, the story in New Zealand will likely be less about AI suddenly upending media, and more about how media organisations, audiences, and regulators adapt to its presence – balancing innovation with trust, accuracy, and cultural integrity".
It seems reasonably obvious that AI will continue to play a critical role in the background.
But as consumers become even more wary of AI ‘slop’ being served up to them on social media channels, they will be increasingly seeking out human-curated media platforms and products. There’s a huge opportunity for media firms to regain some lost ground.
The 10 best-read Media Insider articles in 2025
The 10 highest-engaged Media Insider articles
The 10 Media Insider stories that drew in the most subscribers
Media leaders on the year ahead
Last week, we heard from the chief executives of New Zealand’s top six media companies. This week, we catch up with another three top media leaders on how they see the year ahead.
The final Q&As will be published next week.
Stuart Dick, general manager NZ, Are Media
What’s one word to sum up your mood heading into 2026?
Optimistic (again).
What surprised you in 2025?
The general malaise of the nation, we need to lift the mood. Let’s host the Olympics or something.
What has been your biggest personal or professional success in 2025, and what’s your biggest ‘work-on’ for 2026?
We’ve managed to significantly grow audience and grow advertising revenue this year, a satisfying result in the current media landscape. For 2026, I’ll be working closely with the rest of the board of the Magazine Publishers Association to share some of those good news stories about audience growth, effectiveness case studies and reminders of the benefits of magazines.
Which competitor – either person or firm – do you admire most and why?
The Think TV trade campaign was impressive, look out for the MPA’s version in 2026. NZME’s video strategy has been very well executed this year. Also excited to see vibrancy and growth in the magazine sector with a couple of new launches, Veil & Audacious, and relaunches – the new Metro is back to its best.
How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients?
Earning and retaining trust of audiences will become more important than ever, especially as we approach the election. Audiences will continue to shift towards content with integrity, and switch off from bias or inferior content.
Locally, that will become a big differentiator, especially as audiences become sharper and more selective in their consumption. Recognition of the impacts of social media will continue to increase, the Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill will pass into law. Advertisers will continue the shift towards high-quality, high-engagement environments that deliver actual results, not just impressions for the sake of it. AI will continue to be a game changer, driving efficiency and productivity for most businesses, including ours.
What are your plans for the summer break?
*copy & paste from last year* Nice family holiday in Pauanui, and hopefully some golf!
Susana Guttenbeil, GM of content, Pacific Media Network
What’s one word to sum up your mood heading into 2026?
Purposeful.
What surprised you in 2025?
I was deeply moved by the artistry and boldness behind the recent theatre masterpiece I must not speak Niuean, by award-winning playwright Leki Jackson-Bourke, featuring Creative NZ Emerging Pacific Artist 2025 recipient Haanz Fa’avae Jackson in the lead role. It explored themes of Niue’s language loss and depopulation with raw honesty and emotion. It stands as a powerful exemplar of story sovereignty – our narratives told by us, to the world.
What’s also refreshing is the surge of Pacific creativity on global stages – the immense success of Tinā and Chief of War, to the Tongan short film Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue. Adding to this momentum, is the Moana Reo Media Fund launched to champion Pacific language and culture through media innovation. Its purpose is to enable projects that amplify Pacific voices, preserve heritage all while embracing digital spaces. This makes for an exciting era of Pacific storytelling – one we’re proud to support.
What has been your biggest personal or professional success in 2025, and what’s your biggest ‘work-on’ for 2026?
As a network, we had a turbulent start to the year but despite the challenges, we’ve ended the year intact and on a high. We’ve taken a few risks, listened to our audiences as well as our teams internally, and as a result, continued to build a strong, trustworthy, and relevant platform. Our audiences continue to grow outside of New Zealand, extending to communities internationally and we’re really proud to stand on that.
All of our shows levelled up this year and have pushed really hard. Pacific Mornings on 531pi, led by William Terite, is boldly carving a competitive mainstream product with Pacific mana at heart. Our metrics for news have been significant and are clear – Terite is one to watch in 2026.
Our biggest work-on is that election year demands intentionality. We are looking hard at how we make engaging changes that meet the needs of our community and diverse audiences.
Which competitor – either person or firm – do you admire most and why?
Rather than seeing competitors, I see trailblazers. I have deep respect for women in our sector who continue to raise the bar. They include Lisa Taouma, Nadia Tolich, Madeleine Chapman, Nicole Rex and Niva Retimanu, just to name a few.
I’ll forever be indebted to the incredible Te Rito steerco group – Lois Turei, Sarah de Croy, Wena Harawira, Hannah Brown, Kath Murphy, Cathy O’Sullivan and Laura Franklin. There is so much courage, creativity and a whole lot of alofa that went into this project. Their leadership reminds me that collaboration and representation can often be more impactful than competition.
How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients?
Public confidence in content being fair and trustworthy, even when people disagree, will be non‑negotiable in 2026. Research shows trust fell sharply through 2024 and only began to stabilise in 2025, with audiences demanding more transparency, clarity and multiple perspectives.
For PMN, a game-changer will be integrating technology while preserving cultural integrity. We subscribe to a simple edict: people participate when they are informed, educated and made aware of important societal issues in ways they can understand.
So seeing more Pacific people get out and vote in 2026 than they did in 2023 (a significant decline from 2020) may not in itself be game-changing, but it is a mission we intend to drive.
What are your plans for the summer break?
Creating a new signature cocktail with my BBQ-master hubby, while soaking up an Auckland summer with my four kids, 12-year-old best big sis and 6-year-old triplets. I’ll spend the majority of the break dreaming up a landscape plan for a bougie backyard and then having no time to implement it!
Todd Scott, co-owner and publisher, National Business Review
What’s one word to sum up your mood heading into 2026?
Hurry up & wait (with the symbol that’s three words).
What surprised you in 2025?
Nothing.
What has been your biggest personal or professional success in 2025, and what’s your biggest ‘work-on’ for 2026?
I spent two months at a rehab centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, working through childhood trauma.
Work on: Holding people who breach NBR copyright to account.
Which competitor – either person or firm – do you admire most and why?
Ryan Bridge has done an outstanding job of Herald Now, but there’s a team of people alongside him and behind the scenes that also deserve high praise for this disruptive play for morning viewership and the reuse of content on social media for those that are not into linear time-controlled viewing.
How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients?
Media that rely on advertising will have only March, April, May, and June to benefit from increased advertising, the rest of the year due to a slow start to the year because of summer holidays and the upcoming election later in the year, as stated above, 2026 will be a year of hurry up and wait for a 2027 recovery. #Fix26
For NBR, it’s business as usual, apart from The NBR Rich List celebrating its 40th anniversary when it is launched in June.
What are your plans for the summer break?
Enjoy quality time with my adorable wife – whom I met when I was just 18 years old – and avoiding the discussion of work.
Next week, we have our final instalment of Q&As with media leaders. Happy New Year, and safe holidays.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.