Taking Our Voice to the World
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RADIO NEW ZEALAND ANNUAl report 2011–2012 TAKING OUR VOICE TO THE WORLD TO VOICE OUR TAKING ContentS of all New Zealanders agree that it is important for New Zealand to have a public service radio broadcaster. Chair’s Report 2 88% Chief Executive Report 3 of Radio New Zealand National listeners Performance Management 4 agree the network provides in depth news – Strategic Direction 4 and current affairs about New Zealand. – Performance Management 94% Framework: Outcomes 5 – Our Charter 6 – Radio New Zealand Operating Principles 6 – Our Performance Based on Public Value and Our Charter Objectives 7 AUDIO – Good Employer and Equal Employment Opportunities Reporting 16 ITEMS Financial Performance 19 110,000 Statement of Service Performance 51 AVAILABLE FROM THE ARCHIVE Directory 63 REFLECTING OUR STORIES and the things that make us unique. 3.4 million PoDCAStS DOWNLOADeD SMARTPHONE DOWNLOADS >> VISITS TO OUR WEBSITE << MOBILE APPLICATIONS boost global service. IN TIMES OF CRISIS New Zealanders turn to Radio New Zealand. 90% SATISFACTION among Radio New Zealand National listeners. 351,000 PEOPLE LISTEN TO 80% SATISFACTION MORNING among Radio New Zealand Concert listeners. REPORT 238,000 PEOPLE LISTEN TO AFTERNOONS 464,000 235,000 PEOPLE LISTEN TO PEOPLE LISTEN TO RADIO NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL: NINE TO NOON top ranking radio station RADIO NEW ZEALAND in New Zealand in 2011. NATIONAL of Radio 50 Years New Zealand News CELEBRATED REACHING OUT to new generations. 60–80 NEW SMARtPHone SUBSCRIBeRS EVERY DAY Chair’S RePoRt FROM A BOARD PERSPECTIVE 2011/2012 WAS A SOMETIMES DIFFICULT BUT NEVER-THE-LESS SATISFYING EXERCISE IN SETTING LONG-TERM POLICY GOALS WHILE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF WORKED COHESIVELY TO ENSURE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING OR MORALE. A seamless hand-over of Ministerial STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS > Strategic controls over expenditure and the exploration broadcasting responsibilities from the Hon. planning has also resulted in the company of alternative revenue streams. Dr Jonathan Coleman to the Hon. Craig Foss developing a network of relationships with Government funding remains frozen at 2009 ensured consultation on the development other like-minded organisations. The past year levels and inexorable cost increases continue options for Radio New Zealand continued to has seen a greater focus on engagement to exert financial pressure on the company’s day be frank and constructive. with museums, readers & writers festivals, to day operations. Management and staff have Representation to the Commerce Select music and arts festivals, science institutions and risen to the challenge and astute stewardship Committee was well received and the annual orchestras. These strategic partnerships has ensured both programming standards Statement of Intent was endorsed by the will enhance our intrinsic responsibility to provide and staff morale remain high. Shareholding Ministers. unique, high quality, cost-effective programming. However, if the funding freeze continues beyond Radio New Zealand continued its tradition Meanwhile, the Board has now formalised June 2013 both the Board and management will of high quality broadcasting and was again the setting up of a Concert Trust to assist have some difficult choices to make. rewarded with extraordinary levels of public Radio New Zealand Concert. The financial team, led by Ken Law, is to be support and respect. INNOVATION > Radio New Zealand is in the congratulated for their continued excellent vanguard of a radio industry that is increasingly PUBLIC VALUE AND THE GLOBAL MEDIA financial management of Radio New Zealand’s looking to service public demand for technology public and other funding. ENVIRONMENT > The 12 months under that delivers on-demand media services. review also coincided with a significant level That stringent management has allowed of international concern over perceived This evolution from a provider of traditional Radio New Zealand to operate within budget irresponsibility and lack of integrity within radio services to a new role as the country’s for the year, returning a surplus of $165,000 elements of the news media. The consequent leading online broadcaster is now well advanced before tax. In keeping with past practice scrutiny served to again underscore the and remains a major focus of our attention. Shareholding Ministers have again waived value of a public broadcasting service that We believe that current advances in their right to a dividend. is politically independent and free of technology will enhance Radio New Zealand’s I want to again commercial imperatives. continuing development as an on-demand ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS > thank my colleagues on the Board of Governors In the same time-frame traditional media had media organisation providing information for their professional support, advice and to adjust business plans in the face of declining to all New Zealanders wherever, whenever and direction in difficult times. profitability. The response was a regime of however they choose to receive it. On behalf of the Board I congratulate Chief cost-cutting, greater networking and an The internet and associated online services are Executive Peter Cavanagh and his senior expanding syndication of content. Inevitably proving to be a very effective way for the management team on another successful this has led to a substantial cut in resources company to extend its public value, reach out to year. I also want to thank all the dedicated for news-gathering journalism. new audiences, and meet its Charter obligations. staff that, day after day, broadcast outstanding In this context Radio New Zealand, and we hope Our challenge is to find the balance between programmes that compete successfully with the New Zealand taxpayer, is more acutely maintaining no-cost access to traditional the best in the world. aware than ever of the critical role the services while ensuring that cutting edge, organisation plays in providing the nation with multi-platform services meet our strict editorial Finally, the Board would like to pay tribute a trusted source of independently verified policies and are always delivered to the highest to the unique camaraderie within the news and information. international standards. Radio New Zealand culture that was again poignantly demonstrated in the days that PUBLIC VALUE IN TIMES OF NEED > LEGISLATION > The Radio New Zealand followed the violent death of the widely- What is sometimes overlooked in the debate Amendment Bill remains on the Government’s respected and much-admired bulletins editor, around public broadcasting is the role played order of business awaiting a second reading Phillip Cottrell, on his way home after an by Radio New Zealand as this country’s only in Parliament. The Bill contains a new overnight shift in December 2011. ‘Lifeline Utility’ radio broadcaster. Radio New Zealand Charter unanimously That sense of humanity and community The shock of the natural disasters in Christchurch endorsed by earlier Parliamentary Select is a critical mainstay of the public service and the role staff played in assisting the country Committees and is the result of extensive public broadcasting ethos. to understand and cope with this complex consultation in 2005. emergency emphasised the need for an on-going strategic focus. To that end the company is FUNDING AND FINANCE > Radio New Zealand re-evaluating response plans, particularly in is currently evaluating options for leveraging Wellington where Radio New Zealand facilities capital investment in key assets. Our long-term are still centralised. aim is to enhance financial sustainability RICHARD GRIFFIN The review is aimed at ensuring that, in the through strategic investment in the assets – Chair event of a catastrophic event in Wellington, required to deliver the company’s business. Radio New Zealand could continue to provide Prudent financial management has once again the essential communication services the been a feature of operations in a year that saw country expects. some real cost savings, the maintenance of tight 2 Chief executIve RePoRt OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS RADIO NEW ZEALAND HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY ITS CURRENT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, FINDING NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE ITS VALUE AS THE NATION’S ONLY PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER. Despite declining levels of overall radio listener- Christchurch earthquake documentary, Faced with the prospect of replacing its ageing ship in New Zealand, Radio New Zealand’s Broken River, was awarded the Gold Medal as digital production system, Radio New Zealand audiences remain strong with more than half the year’s best current affairs programme. decided instead to purchase the original a million people over the age of 15 tuning in source code from its European suppliers and to one of our services each week. GROWING PUBLIC VALUE > Over the past redevelop the system to better meet our current year we have continued to focus our attention and future needs. As a result of this initiative, An annual survey of media consumption trends on extracting the greatest possible public in New Zealand by the worldwide Nielsen organ- operating costs have fallen and the working value from the content we produce. life of the current production system has been isation showed that Radio New Zealand National extended significantly. was clearly the country’s No.1 radio station in While maintaining our place as New Zealand’s 2011 with a market share of more than 11%. leading live radio broadcaster, we continue We are proud that this project