Staff from a wide range of departments were called to a series of meetings yesterday to learn their fate.

THE Herald Several news management positions – in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch – were learned to be among those affected. Stuff reported that TVNZ was proposing to create a central bureau chief based in Wellington.

TVNZ told Herald this afternoon that it had decided last month, during its strategic consultation work, to “bring together its information and content divisions”.

The news division is currently headed by the news and current affairs editor, Phil O’Sullivanwhile content and programming – that is, all other non-news programming on TVNZ – is led by the Director of Content. Nevak Rogers.

“Both areas drive TVNZ’s audience and the intention is that bringing these areas together will ensure we can deliver more digital content and experiences to our viewers,” a TVNZ spokeswoman told Media Insider .

“To support this decision, changes will be made to the news and content leadership teams, with a small number of And content roles were removed and a small number of new roles were created. This will provide a new combined leadership team for the business.

“We have also created a new role of Head of Information and Content within the leadership team. He will replace the editor-in-chief and head of content within the management team. TVNZ is becoming a smaller organization, which means a smaller management team. As you will recall, the management team was reduced in 2023 as well.

“This role has not yet been named and there may be internal interest in the role. The title of the role is however clear: it will be a leader news and content responsible and the intention will be to appoint an individual capable of successfully leading the news, content and production teams.

The TVNZ spokeswoman said she would not comment on individuals.

The way appears open for Rogers and O’Sullivan to apply for the new role.

A group of editors reporting to O’Sullivan were also subjected to proposals this week related to their own positions. According to a Herald source, at least one of them was in tears.

A TVNZ spokeswoman earlier said Thursday had been a “difficult day”.

“It’s incredibly difficult for TVNZers. These are not decisions we want to make, but they are necessary to ensure the future sustainability of the organization.

“It’s a really terrible day in a year of terrible days for them,” said E tū, a specialist in union negotiations. Michael Wood said Thursday.

He said the mood was grim, with TVNZ producing small to moderate chips in most teams, rather than cutting groups completely.

By Wood’s estimate, the 50 net job cuts would equate to about $6 million to $7 million in savings — at best about a quarter of the $30 million goal.

There was concern and sadness for people who lost their jobs, he said, but also concern for those who remained with the company. What exactly would they have left? How soon will TVNZ have to make further cuts?

The TVNZ spokeswoman said the company “does not intend to meet our $30 million target through reduced labor costs alone”.

“For a company with less than 600 people, that’s just not realistic,” she said. “Given that we are a broadcast and streaming company, content and operating costs represent significant expenses and their close management will play a greater role in achieving our objective.

“The $30 million target is for FY25, we are only halfway through the fiscal year, but we will provide additional guidance in the interim and full year. “

Editor Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced journalists and media executives. He has held senior management and editorial positions at NZME, including editor-in-chief, editor of the NZ Herald and editor of the Herald on Sunday and has a small stake in NZME.