Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has cancelled his regular weekly interviews with TVNZ’s Breakfast programme while also lodging a complaint about the conduct of its press gallery team.
Luxon’s office notifed the broadcaster of the decision on Friday afternoon.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the PM said “we have decided to update our approach” to regular media engagements following a review late last year.
“Kiwis get their news in different ways – across radio, television, podcasts and digital platforms, and from next month, there will be three separate morning TV news shows.
“The PM will continue to be available to media, including Breakfast on a case-by-case basis.”
The spokesperson also noted National’s separate concerns about the “inappropriate conduct” of TVNZ staff
“New Zealanders want a fair, balanced and accurate media talking to the issues that matter to them. We respect the role of media, but there are standards, and those standards matter.”
Luxon’s Monday interview slot on RNZ’s Morning Report and NewstalkZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast will continue.
In 2021, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern provided similar reasoning when she cancelled her weekly interview on NewstalkZB.
Luxon’s withdrawal comes not long after the appointment of former Newshub political editor Tova O’Brien as Breakfast co-host.
Asked for a response, a TVNZ spokesperson said: “Our news team is committed to providing accurate, impartial, comprehensive and in-depth news coverage.
“Editorial independence is fundamental to this and critical for a free and democratic society. Part of this is holding those in positions of power to account.”
Political complaint lodged
National has also lodged a complaint with TVNZ, claiming members of its Press Gallery team broke Parliament’s rules in their pursuit of an interview with chief whip Stuart Smith.
But TVNZ disputes National’s version of events and says the correct avenue for complaints is with the Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee.
In a statement to RNZ, a spokesperson for Brownlee said he was aware of the alleged events but had no further involvement with the complaint.
In a post on social media, Simeon Brown said TVNZ staff followed Smith into a corridor where media interviews were not permitted without express permission. RNZ / Mark Papalii
The incident is alleged to have occurred at the end of a frenetic Tuesday in which Luxon called and won a vote of confidence in his own leadership.
A key element of the story was the absence of the party’s chief whip from the critical caucus meeting. Smith had avoided speaking to reporters for five days despite his prominent role in a NZ Herald story about flagging caucus support for Luxon.
In a post on social media, National’s campaign chair Simeon Brown said TVNZ staff followed Smith into a corridor where media interviews were not permitted without express permission.
He said staff then “aggressively” knocked on Smith’s office door for several minutes and pressured him by suggesting how he might be portrayed on TVNZ’s Breakfast programme the following morning if he did not agree to speak.
This week, National has made a complaint to TVNZ about the conduct of its staff.
TVNZ staff:
• followed National Whip Stuart Smith into his corridor, an area where media interviews are not allowed without express permission;
• aggressively banged on his door for several…
— Simeon Brown (@SimeonBrownMP) April 24, 2026
In response to questions from RNZ, a TVNZ spokesperson said the news outlet had a “different view of what took place”.
“Our journalist was asking questions on behalf of the public, as they do every day. This story came to light due to leaking from National Party MPs. It was a legitimate story to follow. We look forward to Stuart Smith making himself available to explain his absence from caucus.”
The TVNZ spokesperson said the correct place for such complaints was with Parliament’s Speaker, not with TVNZ or on social media.
“Simeon Brown is well aware of this,” the spokesperson said.
In his post on X, Brown said the behaviour of TVNZ was “unacceptable” and a “clear breach” of Parliament’s rules governing media access.
“We respect the role of media, but there are standards, and those standards matter,” he said.
He said New Zealanders expected fair, balanced and accurate reporting, rather than what he characterised as “a media-driven soap opera”.
Smith finally addressed media at Parliament on Wednesday, where he flatly denied the earlier Herald report which claimed Smith had tried to alert the prime minister to discontent in the ranks.
Asked why it took him so long to issue a denial, Smith told reporters: “I didn’t feel it was appropriate [to do so earlier].”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
