Hector O'Brien against Radio New Zealand

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) published an article on December 22, 2025, titled Winston Peters makes u-turn on Chorus debt sell-off.

The story was about the NZ First leader Winston Peters reversing his previous opposition to the Chorus debt sell-off. This apparently cleared the way for Government to proceed with a plan to sell about $650m in interest-free loans Chorus owes the government.

Mr O’Brien complained that the comment “The Government does not have an (equity) stake in Chorus” was factually incorrect as the Government owned holding company National Infrastructure Funding and Finance Ltd had around 61.6 percent of shares in Chorus. 

RNZ said the article was correct. The Government did not have an equity stake in this privately owned company. However, it was owed debt by Chorus, more specifically Ulta-fast Broadband securities. This had been reported in an earlier RNZ story and to the NZX. 

It said the word “stake” had been used in a previous report, but this was updated in this story to make it clear that the Government has no equity or ownership in Chorus.

The Media Council notes the line was taken directly from the December 17 press statement in which Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said: “It is important to note the government does not have an equity stake in Chorus and the securities involved are not ordinary shares.”

It further notes that NIFFCO is not listed as a major Chorus shareholder. Rather it is shown through official documents and ministerial statements that the company was used to provide Government loan finance to Chorus.  In the circumstances no inaccuracy has been shown, nor any unfairness.

Decision:  No grounds to proceed.