Our Jurisdiction & Scope
The Media Council’s scope applies to published material in newspapers, magazines and their websites, including audio and video streams, as well as to digital sites with news content, or blogs characterised by their new commentary.
Coverage also extends to the online content of the broadcasters such as TVNZ, SKY Television, Whakaata Maori, RNZ and NZME Radio.
The Video-on-Demand Classifications Code covers the content of online video classification and warning symbols.
The Council retains the discretion to decline a complaint if the publication has limited readership or the circumstances make the complaint inappropriate for resolution by the Council.
The Council’s adjudications are based on ethical considerations: it does not recover debts or seek monetary recompense for complainants. See our Principles and Complaints Procedure.
Our Media Council Complaints Board Members
The NZ Media Council Complaints Board is led by an independent chair, and includes seven public members and six industry members.
The NZ Media Council Governance Board
Brook has been General Manager of the News Publishers’ Association since 2019, the industry body representing New Zealand’s leading news media organisations. The Association champions news media as vital to a strong democracy and healthy society in Aotearoa. Brook also serves as the media representative on the ASA Governance Board and brings more than 30 years of marketing and management experience across New Zealand and Australia. Brook is deeply committed to the role of independent, trusted journalism.
Stuff Masthead Publishing is a national portfolio business of subscription focused products including digital news websites, magazines, newspapers and events, and a national social media network Neighbourly.
Joanna has worked in media for more than two decades in New Zealand, the UK and the Middle East. She has worked as a reporter, editor and media executive. She was appointed Managing Director in 2023, having previously held the role of Chief Content Officer for the Stuff Group.
History of NZ Media Council
The New Zealand Media Council was originally established as the New Zealand Press Council in 1972. It is one of Aotearoa's longest-standing institutions dedicated to upholding media standards and protecting freedom of expression. It was founded by newspaper publishers and journalists as an independent, self-regulatory body designed to provide the public with a fair and accessible way to resolve complaints about the press. When it was formed, the Press Council brought together representatives of the publishing industry, journalists and members of the public to provide an independent forum for resolving complaints. This structure - combining industry expertise with public representation - became a defining characteristic of the Council's approach to accountability.
As the news landscape evolved, the Council recognised that its oversight needed to extend beyond print. In 2017, its jurisdiction was formally expanded to include online media, reflecting the growing influence of digital journalism, news websites, and blogs with news content. To reflect this broader remit, the organisation adopted a new name: The New Zealand Media Council (Te Kaunihera Ao Pāpāho o Aotearoa). This shift acknowledged the increasingly multi-platform nature of modern news consumption and reinforced the Council's commitment to upholding standards across all forms of editorial media.
The Media Council retains a governance model that balances public representation with industry participation. The Council is funded primarily by the News Publishers' Association, with additional support from member fees and E tū. It remains a self regulatory body with no cost to the public for lodging complaints. The Council's long history reflects its enduring purpose to support a strong, ethical media sector that serves the public interest.