Chinese New Zealand Herald – State Media Monitor

The Chinese New Zealand Herald is a Chinese-language newspaper serving the Chinese-speaking population of New Zealand.

Media assets

Publishing: Chinese New Zealand Herald

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

The Chinese New Zealand Herald is a joint venture between New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), a publicly traded media conglomerate, and China News Service, a state-owned Chinese media enterprise. NZME fully owns the Chinese New Zealand Herald, yet editorial operations are reported to be under the sway of China News Service, which is believed to exert considerable influence over its content.

In 2025, NZME has been embroiled in a high-stakes boardroom battle stirred by a Canadian private-equity tycoon, James Grenon, who has amassed just under 10 percent of NZME’s shares and is pushing for a full board overhaul. His bid, which includes nominating himself as chair, has raised alarms regarding potential editorial interference—not only in mainstream titles like the New Zealand Herald, but also across NZME’s portfolio.

In June 2025, NZME underwent a significant boardroom overhaul in which Grenon secured a seat on the NZME board. Former National Party minister Steven Joyce was appointed as the board chair during the same meeting.

Source of funding and budget

Despite exhaustive research, no recent financial data, such as revenue figures or budget appropriations, for the Chinese New Zealand Herald are publicly available. There’s currently no evidence indicating direct funding from the Chinese government.

For the fiscal year ending 31 December 2024, NZME reported operating revenue of NZ$345.9 million (up 2% from 2023), and a statutory net loss after tax of NZ$16.0 million, due in part to a NZ$24 million non‑cash impairment of intangible asset.

In November 2024, NZME announced plans to shut down 14 community newspapers, affecting approximately 30 staff in editorial, sales, and operations, a move signifying continued consolidation.

Editorial independence

Local experts and journalists interviewed as of March 2024 and May 2025 criticized the Chinese New Zealand Herald for functioning as a propaganda tool for the Chinese government. No formal statute or charter delineating editorial independence has been identified. Likewise, there appears to be no independent oversight body auditing or safeguarding the paper’s autonomy.

July 2025