The Government’s move to disestablish the Broadcasting Standards Authority is putting the future of media accountability under the spotlight, as New Zealand grapples with a rapidly changing broadcasting and digital landscape.
Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i, recently appointed to the Media Council complaints board and speaking in her personal capacity, joins Radio Waatea to discuss what the proposed changes could mean for audiences, broadcasters and public confidence in the media.
Solomon-Tanoa’i brings direct experience to the debate after previously serving as a member of the BSA. The Government announced its intention to disestablish the authority in May, with legislation introduced in September. Until any law change takes effect, the BSA continues operating under the Broadcasting Act.
The debate comes as the boundaries between traditional broadcasting, digital journalism and online content become increasingly blurred. The BSA itself has argued that the existing regulatory model is outdated, while warning that removing regulation altogether could leave gaps in public protection and accountability.
For Solomon-Tanoa’i, the conversation also raises broader questions about whose voices are represented in media decision-making and whether a future system can maintain public trust while reflecting the diversity of modern Aotearoa.
As the Government reshapes media regulation, the question is not simply what replaces the BSA — but who will hold the media to account when audiences believe standards have been breached?
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