New Zealand Media Council

The New Zealand Press Council is a Non Governmental Organisation which exists to uphold standards in the New Zealand print media and promote freedom of speech in New Zealand. Founded in 1975, it is enabled to hear complaints against newspapers and other publications, particularly regarding allegations of bias and inaccuracy. It can order an offending publication to publish a summary of the Council's ruling, and will generally specify the prominence of the summary (for example, where in the newspaper).

The Council consists of an independent chair, five members representing the public, two representing the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, one representing magazine publishers, and two journalists who are appointed by the journalists’ union, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU). It is entirely funded by the print media industry.

In March 2013 the Law Commission proposed moving complaints about news and current affairs out of the jurisdiction of the Press Council, the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Online Media Standards Authority, placing them under a proposed new body, the News Media Standards Authority.

Press Council website

• http://www.presscouncil.org.nz