RNZ audiences rise as trust remains strong

RNZ has set a new digital audience record, with radio listenership also rising as more Kiwis turn to its trusted public media.

The latest GfK survey results show RNZ’s radio stations reached a combined audience of 612,800, up 26,700 from the previous survey in May 2026.

RNZ National reached 509,200 people aged 10+ in a typical week, up 16,300 from the previous survey. Meanwhile, RNZ Concert’s audience rose to 163,800, from 160,300 in the last survey.*

Chief audio officer Pip Keane says RNZ National’s audience has grown 7% year on year, with the latest results the broadcaster’s best since Survey 1 in 2024. The results demonstrate that live radio remains central to its service, while its strength in attracting audiences from the start of the day was also notable.

“First Up grew by 13,900 survey-on-survey to 86,000, a 19% increase and providing a much stronger lead in for Morning Report. This is First Up’s best result since 2023 and is a vital entry point into the RNZ day.

“These results show the value audiences place on RNZ National’s distinctive mix of trusted journalism, informed conversation and connection across the day. RNZ continues to build audiences in the target areas of its Audio Plan, with the growth in Auckland being particularly visible.”

Stories that connect

Alongside growth in live radio, RNZ’s digital audience broke new ground in July, with a record unique audience of 1.785 million for rnz.co.nz.

RNZ’s digital audience has more than doubled over the past three years – from 880,000 (July 2023) to 1.785 million (July 2026), a rise of 102.7%.**

RNZ puts its audience growth down to projects and stories that connect with New Zealanders, such as Waiata 100 which invited New Zealanders to vote for Aotearoa’s favourite New Zealand song from the past 100 years, culminating in a live Matariki countdown broadcast.

The project received 66,130 votes, and more than 1.22 million social post views, as well as feedback from a dedicated radio audience that sent over 3000 texts during the live broadcast.

A trusted organisation

“Waiata 100 was RNZ at its best – celebrating music, memory, identity and shared culture,” says Keane.

“It brought audiences together across generations and platforms and showed the unique role RNZ can play in reflecting Aotearoa back to itself.”

Overall, RNZ continues to exceed its audience targets, with the independently conducted Value Indices Survey showing that 83% of New Zealanders aged 18+ consumed RNZ content in the month before the survey. ***

The survey also found that 57% of New Zealanders agree RNZ is an organisation they can trust, maintaining its position as New Zealand’s most trusted news brand, according to AUT’s Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand report.

RNZ chief news officer Mark Stevens says the trust results, combined with growing audiences, reflected the importance of high-quality, independent public journalism.  

“This is a result built on not simply following a basic news agenda, but on transparency, editorial independence, accuracy and public accountability, principles that sit at the heart of RNZ’s public media role.”

Sources:

* GfK Radio Audience Measurements, All Radio Stations, Total New Zealand – RNZ – Survey 2/2026. Survey 2 2026 was conducted from 10 May to 1August 2026.  

** Nielsen Digital Content Ratings, All people 15+.

*** RNZ’s Verian Value Indices Survey is the main tool we use to assess public attitudes to RNZ and their sense of value and trust. We run the survey three times a year. These results are from the second survey. Nationally representative sample of 2,010 New Zealanders aged 18+ weighted by age, gender and ethnicity. Survey completed 24 July to 13 August 2026.

The post RNZ audiences rise as trust remains strong appeared first on stoppress.co.nz.

stoppress.co.nz