TVNZ youth platform Re: News closes

Re: News, TVNZ’s news platform for rangatahi, is closing down on May 29.

Re: was set up in 2017 to serve the young people of Aotearoa and has spent nearly a decade doing just that.

The news that the platform is ending was officially announced on Re: News’ Instagram account on May 25.

At the NZ Media Awards on May 22, 2026, Re: journalist Zoe Madden-Smith was awarded Video Journalist of the Year for the second year running.

During her acceptance speech, Madden-Smith said winning the award and being made redundant in the same fortnight is “pretty wild” but that she’s proud of what the platform achieved.

She also hopes the award win highlights the importance of youth journalism.

A difficult decision

A spokesperson from TVNZ says the broadcaster has made the “difficult decision” to wind up the editorial side of Re: News after not being able to find “an ongoing way to fund this work”.

“Content might be produced under the Re: brand in future where there are viable commercial or funding pathways to do so.

“We’re proud of what Re: News has delivered,” the spokesperson added.

A decade of stories

Since 2017, Re: News constantly innovated to reach rangatahi audiences. It produced a range of content including daily news headlines on social media, written articles, documentaries, series and investigations,

Re: hosted the Young Voters’ Debate and social media series Politics in 60 Seconds ahead of the 2023 General Election.

Its work has also been recognised across that time. Re: took out Best News, Current Affairs or Specialist Publication at the NZ Media Awards in 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, journalist Baz McDonald won Video Journalist of the Year in 2023 and was a finalist again in 2024.

The platform has also been through significant turmoil. In 2024, a major business restructure at TVNZ cut the Re: team from 12 to four.

Now, at the time of closure, just three journalists remain: Madden-Smith, McDonald and Te Ahipourewa Forbes.