NZME's board restructuring, including the appointment of alt-right billionaire Jim Grenon and new leadership figures, signals a shift toward editorial control that risks promoting extremist and authoritarian viewpoints in one of New Zealand's largest media platforms.

Journalists’ union E tū has condemned NZME's decision to implement an additional 30 redundancies, describing it as a 'massacre of journalist capacity' that further erodes the media's ability to hold power to account. The cuts, alongside a shift towards clickbait-driven content and previously endorsed government messaging during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, have raised concerns over both worker rights and compromised editorial independence in New Zealand’s media landscape.

NZME's plan to cut almost 40 roles in its newsroom, including 14 reporters and additional production staff, has drawn sharp criticism from the E Tu union. The union warns that these cutbacks will not only affect the livelihoods of employees but also impair the organization's ability to produce comprehensive news, thereby impacting the public's access to essential information.

The Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner highlighted severe labor abuses, including conditions akin to modern-day slavery and racist treatment of Pacific workers, in a report published by NZ Herald, part of the NZME media group. The report calls for urgent reforms in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, reflecting a commitment to exposing systemic exploitation and advocating for marginalized communities.