Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee says she was caught by surprise with the announcement of Newshub's closure.
Lee — in her first broadcast interview since the announcement of Newshub's closure — said it was "shocking" and "surprising".
"When I met with [Warner Bros Discovery] last year... we were talking about different things that could potentially help them."
She thought the announcement last week was going to be about a switch to streaming, not a closure.
Lee spoke with RNZ this afternoon after earlier insisting she has not been ducking for cover after being criticised for her muted initial response last week to the pending closure. Commentators and opposition MPs described her earlier responses as glib or "missing in action".
On her way into a National caucus meeting this week, Lee stopped for questions, with colleague Paul Goldsmith standing by her side.
"I have actually fronted up. I haven't been hiding," she told reporters. "I have done a couple of interviews."
Since the announcement, Lee has taken questions from reporters at Parliament on three occasions, including on Tuesday. She also spoke to The Spinoff's Duncan Greive.
Lee said she was "not articulate enough" when she had earlier suggested viewers could get their news fix on Sky instead of Newshub.
She said she meant Sky has "several news channels" and Kiwis were getting their news from different sources to what they used to.
She also confirmed having met with TVNZ, saying she'd a conversation with the broadcaster last Friday about "their situation". She declined to go into details about what was discussed, such as potential redundancies or about Warner Bros Discovery's offer to team up on news reporting, which was rejected.
When asked what she would think if TVNZ were to cut its news output, she said it did not matter what she thought.
"Having said that, I think news entities need to remember people are consuming news in a very different way," she said.
Asked if linear TV was dead, she said it had been "signalled for a long time" the end was coming.
Lee also expressed sympathy for the 300 Newshub staff who faced losing their jobs. "I'm gutted for them... I think it's a sad day when we lose a major news channel which lots of people actually love... having said that, it's a commercial decision... it's not something the government can go in and rescue."
Asked where she pick up her news, Lee said she used her phone, before listing a few mainstream news sources, including RNZ.
Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
Asked about the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, Lee said she could have killed it on becoming minister, but allowed it to go to select committee. She said she opposed it in Opposition.
She said her predecessor Willie Jackson had six years to get it across the line. "I've only been in the driving seat for three months... this is something that has been happening gradually and quickly for quite a few years now."
She said she met with Google executives in December, to hear "their thoughts".
As for Facebook owner Meta pulling out of paying for Australian news content beyond the current contracts, Lee said she warned news outlets here about that possibility while in Opposition.
"It's a commercial decision for Meta."
SHARE ME