Five Big Things That Happened Today: Tuesday, July 22
1 Sky TV agrees to buy Three for $1
Sky TV has agreed to buy Three owner Discovery NZ for $1, the company announced this morning.
The agreement was announced to the NZX, and means US television giant Warner Bros Discovery will leave New Zealand's free-to-air television market.
Under the deal, Sky would take control of all TV3 brands, including Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush, HGTV, and the network's streaming platform, ThreeNow.
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2 Debt collector convicted and fined $115,500 for 'misleading conduct'
A debt collector and his company have been ordered to pay $115,500 in fines and emotional harm reparations.
Director John Stuart Campbell and his company Law Debt Collection pleaded guilty in the Manukau District Court to making misleading representations when collecting debt after a prosecution by the Commerce Commission.
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3 Serious crash causes major delays on SH1 in Horowhenua
A section of State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin was closed "for several hours" today following a serious crash — with a nearby marae open to motorists held up.
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Emergency services responded to the scene at Manakau between Whakahoro Rd and Kuku East Rd, about 10.20am.
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4 Man arrested seven years after cold case killing of Hawke's Bay dad
A man has been arrested nearly seven years after the killing of a Hawke's Bay father in Flaxmere.
Eddie Peters, 45, was beaten and left for dead on the driveway at a home on Diaz Drive in Flaxmere during the early hours of Friday, November 16, 2018. He died eight days later at Wellington Hospital.
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5 Time running out for Lotto first division winner to claim prize
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A $200,000 Lotto prize is soon set to expire – with the ticket holder still not having claimed their winnings.
The ticket was purchased at Coastlands Lotto in Paraparaumu on the Kāpiti Coast. It is set to expire on August 31 – one year from its draw date.
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Watch: Luxon hits back at Hipkins calling Family Boost an 'absolute flop'
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he won't be taking any lectures from Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
Watch Here
ONE SEWING JOURNEY
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Jordaan Tuitama got into sewing four years ago.
Now the 38-year-old man is breaking stereotypes of what sewing is and who it's for.
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NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Media Insider: Reality bites - taxpayers help save popular shows The Traitors NZ, Celebrity Treasure Island; TVNZ board member Paul Henry set to host Three show
NZ on Air has today announced $1.47 million in funding for The Traitors NZ to screen on Three and $1.35m for Celebrity Treasure Island to screen on TVNZ. The 2021 cast of Celebrity Treasure Island. Photo / TVNZ It is the first time either show has received public funding from NZ on Air - The Traitors is into its third year and Celebrity Treasure Island will be shooting its seventh season. It is a significant shift in thinking from the funding agency, in that in recent years it has not gone anywhere near commercially successful reality TV shows, which draw hundreds of thousands of viewers. But with advertising revenue falling away in a sluggish economy - and huge digital disruption under way in the TV and production sector - the networks have told NZ on Air that the shows would have been ditched without public help. 'They absolutely did... they did say that - we have been in touch with them both,' NZ on Air chief executive Cameron Harland told Media Insider today. He said as local platforms continued to feel the effects of an advertising decline, NZ on Air was likely to receive more requests to fund previously commercially viable series. NZ on Air revealed it had received 41 applications for this funding round, seeking a total $24.3m. It has agreed to funding for 21 projects, committing $12.6m. 'We're required to ensure a range of local content is available to our audiences,' Harland said. 'In consultation with platforms in the production sector, we are willing to consider making a limited amount of funding available for these types of [reality TV] projects in future rounds. 'We did see this coming, and we put into our guidelines for Round Tahi, in acknowledgement of the difficult financial position local mainstream platforms are finding themselves in - we did agree to consider applications for reality series.' Ultimately, he said, both shows fulfilled NZ on Air's remit that it support projects which drew audiences. Harland said in both cases, NZ on Air's funding was a minority of the shows' budgets. 'They are still bringing money to the table and, of course, from our perspective, that does mean that we're able to spread our money a little bit more widely. There are some obvious ancillary benefits in terms of supporting the production sector and encouraging employment.' Paul Henry's talents across TVNZ and Three Paul Henry has hosted the first two season of The Traitors NZ. Production company South Pacific Pictures today welcomed the funding decision for The Traitors NZ as 'very good news'. South Pacific Pictures managing director Andrew Szusterman said NZ on Air's funding equated to less than 50% of the overall budget for the show. However, it helped ensure the green light for a third season of the show, which is based on an international format. New Zealand's previous two seasons have been successfully exported to the UK, US, Australia and Canada with both its host, Paul Henry, and the contestants seen as major factors in its success. Henry has just been appointed as a director of TVNZ - so will he be available to host The Traitors once again on rival network Three? 'Paul's keen to do it,' said Szusterman, while also adding there was no announcement today on would be host. However, it's clear SPP wants Henry. Szusterman said Henry was contracted to SPP and he saw no issues with him also being a TVNZ director. It was hardly a precedent, he said, with TVNZ broadcasters featuring in roles on rival commercial radio networks and vice versa. There had been no discussions with TVNZ at this stage. 'I would say that it shows a real maturity in the New Zealand market where we're not so hooked up on that kind of stuff,' said SPP chief executive Kelly Martin. 'We can't afford to say to people, you can only work on this network or that network. We're not big enough. 'He's on the [TVNZ] board, so if there are any issues, he can pick it up at a board meeting.' Both TVNZ and Henry have been approached for comment. The Traitors timeframe Suzsterman said a casting call for The Traitors NZ would be made this week, with filming to start in the South Island later this year. 'I think there are no secrets that - and it was signposted by Juliet [Three boss Juliet Peterson] last year, as well - that these shows are really expensive to make, and, with Three in its situation, it wasn't really looking at making those shows. 'So yes, we really did need New Zealand on Air to play its part.' Martin said: 'New Zealand on Air are really aware that if they weren't getting amongst this kind of stuff, it won't happen, and that's got a really negative effect on the industry overall. 'In this round, New Zealand on Air have done a very sensible and good job and they are looking at ways to get people working. 'I think this is an approach that is entirely suitable for the situation that we're currently in. Unless they support some of this stuff, then none of it is on air - we would be contracting significantly in the market generally.' Szusterman said many years ago, NZ on Air did support reality shows such as NZ's Got Talent and X Factor. 'These are popular shows that are watched by hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders - it's good value for money, it's entertaining New Zealanders. There is nothing wrong with it.' Meanwhile, a TVNZ spokeswoman told Media Insider that Celebrity Treasure Island would be filmed in New Zealand in summer. Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand's most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME. Watch Media Insider - The Podcast on YouTube, or listen to it on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1News
a day ago
- 1News
PM wants NZ to get behind development, stem tide of Kiwis leaving for Oz
National leader Christopher Luxon has told his party's annual conference that the country needs to "say yes" more. Addressing about 550 delegates, MPs and supporters at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday, Luxon bemoaned "activists" who opposed housing developments, agriculture, cruise ships and mines. "If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way." Opposition parties have heavily criticised the Government for its economic policies and laid the blame at its feet for the 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia last year, but Luxon said the opposition would make it worse. "Take a look at Australia," he said. "If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch." ADVERTISEMENT Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses 550 delegates at the annual National Party conference in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter (Source: Luxon's speech came hot on the heels of an announcement from the United States that it would increase tariffs to 15%. Still digesting the announcement and what it would mean for New Zealand exporters, Luxon acknowledged "challenging" global conditions. "We can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best," he said. Luxon's speech made no mention of National's coalition partners, New Zealand First or ACT, or even the word "coalition" itself, although deputy Nicola Willis acknowledged the "energy" it took to keep Winston Peters and David Seymour under control. Instead, Luxon's speech was heavy on shout-outs to his National ministers and their policies, and also on blaming the previous government for the cost-of-living struggles New Zealanders currently faced. "In the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "The last government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize." Echoing his speech at Monday's post-cabinet press conference, Luxon leaned on the economic policies the Government had introduced, such as tax changes, FamilyBoost and the removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax. "We're doing what we can," he said. The speech contained an announcement that the Government would make it easier to get a concession on Department of Conservation (DOC) land. "That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running." There would still be restrictions on some parts of the DOC estate. ADVERTISEMENT "Where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster - instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty," Luxon said. Charges of $20-40 for foreign visitors to high-volume sites, such as Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook, were being introduced, but New Zealanders would be exempt from the fees. Party president Sylvia Wood, who was re-elected at the conference, said the party would select candidates for the 2026 election shortly. Speaking to media afterwards, Luxon said there was more to do 18 months into the term. Before the 2026 election, Luxon said he expected to be judged on rebuilding the economy, restoring law and order, lowering the cost of living, and delivering better health and education. "Everyone's dealing with a really challenging global environment right now, but what we can do is control what we can control and that New Zealand has a plan. We can navigate some pretty choppy seas to get to the destination that we want to get to, but for that to happen, you've got to have the right people with the hands on the tiller, which is us." He committed to leading the party into the 2026 election and staying on another three years, if re-elected. ADVERTISEMENT While joking he wanted 100% of the vote, Luxon talked up National's relationship with ACT and New Zealand First. "I'm very proud of the fact that we've worked incredibly well with the three parties in a coalition in the way that we have," he said.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
PM wants NZ to get behind development, progress
By Giles Dexter of RNZ National leader Christopher Luxon has told the party's annual conference that the country needs to "say yes" more. Addressing about 550 delegates, MPs and supporters at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch, Luxon bemoaned "activists" who opposed housing developments, agriculture, cruise ships and mines. "If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way." Opposition parties have heavily criticised the government for its economic policies and laid the blame at its feet for the 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia last year, but Luxon said the opposition would make it worse. "Take a look at Australia," he said. "If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch." Luxon's speech came hot on the heels of an announcement from the United States that it would increase tariffs to 15 percent. Still digesting the announcement and what it would mean for New Zealand exporters, Luxon acknowledged "challenging" global conditions. "We can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best," he said. Luxon's speech made no mention of National's coalition partners, New Zealand First or ACT, or even the word 'coalition' itself, although deputy Nicola Willis acknowledged the "energy" it took to keep Winston Peters and David Seymour under control. Instead, Luxon's speech was heavy on shoutouts to his National ministers and their policies, and also on blaming the previous government for the cost-of-living struggles New Zealanders currently faced. "In the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough," he said. "The last government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize." Echoing his speech at Monday's post-cabinet press conference, Luxon leaned on the economic policies the government had introduced, such as tax changes, FamilyBoost and the removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax. "We're doing what we can," he said. The speech contained an announcement the government would make it easier to get a concession on Department of Conservation land. "That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running." There would still be restrictions on some parts of the DOC estate. "Where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster - instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty," Luxon said. Charges of $20-40 for foreign visitors to high-volume sites like Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook were being introduced, but New Zealanders would be exempt from the fees. Party president Sylvia Wood, who was re-elected at the conference, said the party would select candidates for the 2026 election shortly.
