End of an era: Govt to scrap BSA as 'self-regulation' takes over

The Government is officially pulling the plug on the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), arguing the regulator is a "creature of 1989" that no longer makes sense in a world of podcasts and social media.

Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says the current rules are creating "inconsistencies" and "unfair outcomes."

Under the current law, a panel discussion on a traditional radio station like Radio New Zealand is strictly regulated while the same talk on a podcast is not.

"And so, you know, we could try and extend the brief of BSA far into sort of social media, or we could say, well, actually, why don't we just rely on the self-regulation that works fine for print journalism and set the sector free," Goldsmith told RNZ's Midday Report.

While the government talks about "levelling the playing field", Pasifika say the move could strip away one of the few ways our community can fight back against racism and stereotypes.

Former BSA member Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'i previously warned on Pacific Mornings that scrapping the watchdog leaves Pacific people exposed.

Listen to Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'i's full interview on Pacific Mornings below.

Unlike the BSA, which has the legal power to issue fines and force on-air corrections, a self-regulatory Media Council has no such "teeth."

“For Pacific people, we know what it feels like when our communities are spoken about unfairly or reduced to stereotypes," Pulotu said.

"It's not enough to say, 'we just don't have to listen to it', because the mainstream or the majority of people are listening to those harmful representations of us.”

Watch RNZ Podcast executive Tim Watkins' full interview on Pacific Mornings below.

In the past, the BSA has been a key tool for our people. In 2019, it upheld a complaint about inflammatory comments made on Newstalk ZB that "devalued the reputation" of Pasifika people.

In 2024, it acted against a broadcast suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were unfairly prioritised for surgery.

On the other side of the debate, ACT MP Laura McClure, who championed a bill to abolish the authority, called the announcement a "massive win."

BSA Chief Executive Stacey Wood says while the watchdog’s days are numbered, its focus remains on ensuring the public still has a regulator to turn to when media standards are breached. Photo/Broadcasting Standards Authority

She had accused "radical bureaucrats" at the BSA of trying to police the internet.

"Last year, radical bureaucrats at the BSA actively expanded their empire to police the internet," McClure told RNZ in a statement.

"It shouldn't have taken an ACT member's bill to force action, but I am glad the minister has listened to New Zealanders' outrage."

Watch Laura McClure's full interview on Pacific Mornings below.

What happens next?

The BSA says it has known for 15 years that the current Act was "no longer fit for purpose" and is ready to assist with the transition.

"Our primary interest has been to ensure the public continues to have access to accurate, reliable media content, and a regulator they can turn to if they think public standards are breached," Chief Executive Stacey Wood said in a statement.

A bill to officially repeal the BSA is expected to be drafted in the coming months, though it is unlikely to pass before the general election in November.

Until then, the watchdog stays on the beat but its days are officially numbered.

Watch Stacey Wood's full interview on offensive language on air below.