Faafoi hopeful Google and Facebook will negotiate with NZ media

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

First Up's Nathan Rarere talks to correspondent Pam Corkery who has the latest on Facebook, the news and the government.

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi has met with representatives from Google and Facebook as local media companies’ hopes grow that the internet giants could provide them with a new source of income.

Faafoi told Parliament's social services and community select committee that the meetings took place last week.

The Government is watching the impact of an Australian Government decision to pass a law designed to prod internet search and social media giants into striking deals to pay the media for news shared through their online services.

“I am confident the commercial discussions taking place between traditional media and digital platforms will also begin here in New Zealand and I encourage that,” Faafoi said.

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Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi indicated the success of commercial discussions between internet giants such as Google and media businesses could determine whether the Government stepped in.

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But he said work was taking place to assess options for regulation in New Zealand.

That work would be heavily influenced by the nature of the actions and discussions between platforms and the media companies, he said.

“The media’s role through the Covid pandemic was key to New Zealand’s successful response and as minister I am committed to supporting the sector,” he added.

Media company NZME expressed hope last week that it could reap millions of dollars from social media giants from such talks.

Chief executive Michael Boggs said on a conference call with analysts that the company was watching international regulatory developments and the progress of commercial agreements with “keen interest” as both could have implications for the New Zealand media market.

Boggs noted that Australian media company Seven West Media had reportedly signed a deal with Google entitling it to annual payments worth about A$30m (NZ$32m) a year.

“We would welcome values in that range,” he said last week.

“Even if they were adjusted for population size as opposed to audience size, they would still be significant values for our organisation.”