Union says workers are carrying the cost of leadership failures as the public broadcaster plans redundancies for one in six staff
Staff at Radio New Zealand (RNZ) will protest outside the public broadcaster’s Auckland and Wellington offices on Tuesday 17 November 2026, after the organisation confirmed plans to cut 58 jobs following an $11.8 million deficit.
The hour-long action, running from noon to 1pm under the banner “Accountability, not redundancy”, follows the release of RNZ’s 2025/26 annual report on Monday 9 November. The report set out plans to cut the equivalent of 58 full-time roles by the end of March 2027 – about one in six staff, according to Stuff.
That is almost double the 30 roles RNZ signalled would go in August 2026.
Organisers from E tū, the union representing many RNZ journalists and technical staff, have stressed the gathering is a protest rather than a strike or picket. Staff are encouraged to attend during their own downtime, and Stuff reported that employees at RNZ’s Christchurch office and other sites may also take part. The Post reported the invitation is also open to staff from other media organisations.
“All union members - and everyone else - are invited to join a protest in support of NZ journalism and against the RNZ financial and funding failures and board, exec and govt’s response,” the invitation reads.
“Don’t put up with it. Turn up for it.”
Union questions who bears the cost of redundancies
E tū director Amy Hansen said RNZ workers had done everything asked of them, including taking on the work of colleagues who had left and were not replaced.
“Now nearly 60 of them are being told they have to go because the books were wrong.”
An RNZ spokesperson acknowledged the toll on employees. “RNZ recognises that the changes needed to ensure that RNZ lives within its means are challenging and hard for our people.”
The spokesperson said matters raised by staff would be considered as part of an independent review, with its findings to be shared once completed, “subject to any legal considerations”.
Governance questions mount at RNZ
RNZ has acknowledged its financial reporting did not accurately reflect its underlying position. Outgoing chief executive Paul Thompson has accepted responsibility for the result, and the board has commissioned an independent review into the reporting and oversight failures.
The Post reported on 12 November 2026 that RNZ’s board had approved a $5 million loan facility that broke the law, prompting calls for the directors involved – including board chair Brent Impey – to resign.
What the RNZ job cuts mean for HR leaders
The dispute shows how quickly trust erodes when employees view redundancies as the price of leadership error rather than market conditions. Under the Employment Relations Act 2000, employers must consult affected staff in good faith before confirming redundancies, according to Employment New Zealand guidance.
The Employment Relations Authority has not been shy about testing that process, as seen when Holcim breached its good faith duty consulting seafarers over Christmas redundancies. Other large employers, including SkyCity in its proposed restructure cutting 200 roles, are navigating similar workforce pressures.
