| Legislature | New Zealand Parliament |
|---|---|
| Date assented | 27 May 1989 (age 37) |
| Date commenced | 1 July 1989 |
| Administered by | |
| Related legislation | Electoral Act 1993 |
| Repeals | Broadcasting Act 1976 |
| Summary | Public broadcasting, broadcasting standards and political advertising |
| Status | Current |
The Broadcasting Act 1989 is a statute of the New Zealand Parliament that creates a system of broadcasting standards and the Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air) to fund public broadcasting and New Zealand independent producers.[1]
It established the Broadcasting Standards Authority, which oversees the broadcasting standards regime in New Zealand. The authority is an independent Crown entity, so the New Zealand Government cannot directly influence its work,[2] although it can provide high-level guidance.
The act also establishes NZ On Air, formally the Broadcasting Commission, which funds public broadcasting and independent media production in New Zealand. NZ On Air was originally created to encourage payment of the NZ$110 Public Broadcasting Fee, which was abolished in 1999. Since then, the commission has received its funding directly from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Part 6 sets out the law covering election advertising on radio and television by parties and electorate candidates, the allocation of time and money to political parties for this purpose by the Electoral Commission, and the requirements for broadcasters to supply returns of election advertising.[3]
References
- ^ "Broadcasting Act 1989". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "About us". bsa.govt.nz. Broadcasting Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Electoral Laws and Legislation". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2018-05-25.