Non-fiction content

Stories that hold up a mirror to New Zealand

Non-fiction is a broad genre of storytelling that captures and reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s stories from many different perspectives.

In 2024/25 we invested $38.1m in Non-fiction content, including insightful documentaries, factual series focused on real, diverse lives, important journalism, live national events coverage and unscripted comedy. This content appeared on 18 different primary platforms.

Our Non-fiction funding stream sits within the Creation pou, as described in the Investment Strategy.

The investment

NZ On Air is tasked with reflecting and developing New Zealand culture and identity, including te reo Māori and te ao Māori. Non-fiction content showcases this reflection of our land and its people in compelling and varied ways. It tells our stories through the perennial Country Calendar, the challenges of modern life, such as in Diary Of A Junior Doctor, and supports important current affairs, historical events and topics of significant interest to New Zealand and global audiences.

This year, we carefully assessed our role within the evolving production ecosystem as market conditions shifted - including the end of the Public Interest Journalism Fund in 2023 and the advertising downturn affecting local platforms’ ability to support many previously commercially funded projects. Our expanded Non-fiction funding approach reflects a measured allocation towards supporting select projects which previously attracted commercial funding when they deliver strong local content with unique New Zealand representation; demonstrate proven audience engagement; leverage combined public and commercial investment; and contribute to the sustainability and vibrancy of the local production sector.

The outcomes

Non-fiction content ranges from long form podcasts to premium documentaries, daily and weekly current affairs and public interest journalism, and factual entertainment shows. As good content can take time, some of the projects featured below were funded in previous years, while others are part of a continuous pipeline of content. This section focuses on Non-fiction content audiences enjoyed in the 2024/25 year, demonstrating the incredible quality, diversity and reach of these local stories.

New content released on local broadcaster on demand sites attracted 24.31million streams during this year (this includes Scripted). Non-fiction content takes up nine of the slots in the Top 10 funded shows on linear TV in the past year and five of the Top 10 funded shows on demand.

Diary Of A Junior Doctor

Diary of A Junior Doctor offers a raw, heartfelt glimpse into the high-pressure world of newly minted medical professionals navigating their first year on the wards of one New Zealand’s busiest hospitals, Middlemore. It follows five junior doctors as they navigate the high-stakes world of emergency medicine, obstetrics and general practice, and gives an unfiltered look at the pressures, triumphs and heartbreaks of the early years of medical training.

Airing on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, the series struck a chord with audiences across Aotearoa and was praised for its authenticity, emotional depth and the way it humanised the healthcare system.

Rachel Currie, the producer/director of the series from production house Storymaker, says “I’m delighted that Diary of a Junior Doctor has struck such a chord with audiences. The trust our junior doctors placed in us was remarkable, but what humbled us was how the whole hospital – staff, patients and whānau – got behind the project. We’re deeply grateful; that support is why the series resonated.”

“The feedback has been extraordinary: doctors felt heard, patients felt seen and viewers told us it made them laugh, cry and rethink what the front line of medicine is really like.”

Diary of a Junior Doctor ranked #8 on linear and #10 on demand among funded programmes for the financial year, reaching 1.178M viewers on TVNZ 1 and outperforming its timeslot average; on TVNZ+, it was streamed 438k times with an average episode audience of 87k (to Sept 2025) and strong catch-up viewing, word-of-mouth and marketing of the show after linear launch.

Funded July 2023, released June 2025 on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

$535,109 funding to Storymaker.

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Polk: The trial of Philip Polkinghorne

With in-court access to a sensational trial, Polk – The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne set out to take viewers inside the judicial process in a way rarely seen by most New Zealanders. It was a murder trial that dominated news headlines for weeks, so the ratings success was unsurprising.

The third most streamed funded local show on demand in the year added to a solid linear audience of over half a million across the three episodes. All episodes were released on demand on one day, with the linear playout following over the subsequent three nights. The series was able to access the domestic component of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) along with substantial offshore finance and securing prized UK and Australia distribution. Executive producer Mark McNeill says this was in spite of financing for documentary series getting harder.

Matt Barthow, Sky Free’s Senior Director, Content says it was one of several stand-out successes for Three in 2025 across diverse genres. “The series Polk - The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne exemplifies this, providing a thought-provoking exploration of a high-profile case that captivated New Zealand. By offering fresh insights and nuanced perspectives, Polk highlights the importance of well-crafted local content in our line-up on Three and ThreeNow.”

Funded April 2024, released April 2025 on Three and ThreeNow.
$228,000 funding to Blonde Razor Limited, and NZSPR.

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Open Justice

Initially funded through NZ On Air’s now-completed Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF), Open Justice – Te Pātiti has grown into a key contributor to public interest journalism in Aotearoa. Developed to address a longstanding gap in court reporting, the initiative ensures New Zealanders have access to timely, accurate and regional coverage of our justice system.

Delivered in partnership between NZME, RNZ, Whakaata Māori, Allied Press and Star Media, Open Justice places specialist multimedia journalists in courts across the motu — from Whangārei to Christchurch. These reporters provide coverage of a wide range of proceedings, helping to uphold transparency and accountability by acting as the public’s eyes and ears in the courtroom.

A 2023 independent review by media consultant Dr Gavin Ellis commended the initiative’s impact, noting its success in improving public understanding of the legal system and holding institutions to account. In his review, Ellis quoted that the scheme’s court coverage attracts a substantial audience – pulling in 25.6 million content views in the 22/23 year. The review also acknowledged the significant funding support provided by NZ On Air.

In Budget 2025, the Government committed $6.4 million over four years to expand local journalism initiatives, such as Open Justice, with a focus on reporting on local democracy and justice matters of interest to communities. This funding, to be administered by NZ On Air, is designed to strengthen regional newsrooms and continue to ensure the delivery of trusted, high-quality journalism that serves the public interest.

With its strong regional footprint, multimedia approach and commitment to transparency, Open Justice provides important public media reporting.

Funded in PIJF 2021/22 and General Non-fiction November 2024.

Nielsen TAM pārongo published by NZ On Air is not to be re-published, copied, quoted or redistributed to any other parties.