David Seymour denies role in RNZ boss Paul Thompson’s exit after ‘unhelpful’ commentary
Friday, 22 May 2026
ACT leader David Seymour has denied playing any role in RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson’s decision to quit, despite the public broadcaster bringing forward the announcement after “unhelpful external commentary” about his future.
Seymour, one of RNZ’s shareholding ministers, said Thompson’s departure was “not a surprise” and defended his recent attack on the broadcaster, saying taxpayers and ministers should not be expected to “meekly sit back”.
But Labour says Thompson’s exit is part of a wider Government attack on public media - and that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is “complicit”.
It was announced on Friday morning that Thompson will be stepping down as chief executive of RNZ in December this year after 13 years in the top job.
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RNZ said Thompson had advised the board last December that he would leave the role at the end of 2026, with the intention to make the news public later this year.
However, RNZ’s board chairperson Jim Mather said the announcement of Thompson’s departure was brought forward 'as there has been recent unhelpful external commentary about his future'.
The comment followed highly critical remarks made by Seymour about Thompson’s leadership.
In an interview last month, the ACT leader said that Thompson had “an awful lot to answer for”, and he suspected he “won’t be answering the call at RNZ for much longer”.
But speaking to The Post on Friday, Seymour said he only learned of Thompson’s resignation this morning - and that his comments last month were not because he had insider knowledge.
“I was not in any way knowledgeable of this until this morning,” said Seymour.
He said his remarks, made on The Platform, were “logical” and related to Thompson’s lengthy tenure in the top job.
“You've had a decline in listenership, you've had a decline in trust until recently, and you've had, I think, a very long stint with one person in charge, and governance changes coming, so you needn't be Nostradamus to have foreseen this.”
Broadcasting Minister Paul Goldsmith spoke to Seymour at the time about his remarks, which he described as “not helpful”.
But Seymour said he was sharing his view on the performance of the outlet, which is what you would expect from a shareholder.
“Just like any company in New Zealand, you can't expect your shareholders to meekly sit back and let you do whatever you like.
“Those comments, that somehow the shareholders of the organisation have no say and are unhelpful … probably tells you everything you need to know about some of the attitudes that have prevailed,” said Seymour.
“If somebody thinks that it's unhelpful and external to get feedback from their shareholders, that's not an attitude that would get you very far if you were the chair of any private company in New Zealand.”
The Post has sought an interview with Thompson, but has not received a response.
Goldsmith, in a statement, said: “I thank Mr Thompson for his service and wish him well in his endeavours. All my interactions with him have been very positive.”
Labour’s media spokesperson Reuben Davidson said Thompson’s departure was part of a wider pattern, and blamed the Government.
“David Seymour said Paul Thompson would be gone, and now he is. First it was Maiki Sherman at TVNZ, then the Government scrapped the BSA, and now they've come for the CEO of RNZ,” Davidson said in a statement.
“There is a pattern here of attacking public media, and it has a chilling effect across the entire media landscape, which is exactly the point. Seymour has blatantly abused his power as a shareholding minister, and Christopher Luxon's silence makes him complicit.”
Seymour said that Thompson’s departure was a “great opportunity” for RNZ, adding that he believed a lot of “professional, talented, committed journalists” had been “let down” by the performance of higher ups.
He wasn’t, however, willing to put forward any potential names for successors, saying that the appointment of the chief executive is up to the board.
“Our job as shareholding ministers is to put in place a board, and we've done that. We've done that very purposefully and intentionally and we've got every right to do that and when people say we're supposed to appoint a board and just shut up it shows a certain disrespect for democracy and tax paying shareholders,” he said.
Asked whether he’d like to be broadcasting minister one day, Seymour, though adding that he “completely” supports Goldsmith, said: “I think I could perform the role of broadcasting minister.”