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From: Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 5:09 PM
To: Paul Goldsmith (MIN) <[email address]>
Cc: s9(2)(a)
<s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>; Caroline Rainsford
<[email address]>
Subject: CORPG0899 - Google NZ Financial Results (year ending 2023)
Tēnā koe Minister Goldsmith,
I hope this finds you well.
We wanted to let you know that Google New Zealand has lodged its accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023
and that they are available to download from the New Zealand Companies Office website.
This email shares a summary of Google New Zealand’s accounts and its support for communities.
In the 2023 calendar year, Google New Zealand made a pre-tax profit of NZ$23.4 million resulting in a current
income tax expense of NZ$7.1 million. We continue to work constructively with Inland Revenue to ensure that we
comply with New Zealand’s legislative requirements. At Google we are proud to be an integral partner to New
Zealand’s vibrant technology ecosystem, supporting businesses of all sizes and households across the motu. Our
latest Economic Impact Report shows Google’s free and paid search advertising and productivity platforms
generated NZ$16.5 billion of economic benefits to businesses across New Zealand in 2022.
Please note, Google New Zealand has been booking its revenue onshore in NZ since 2018. New Zealand accounting
standards align with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and require us to recognise revenue net of
the reseller cost (i.e. the cost to GNZ to acquire Google advertising product to resell in New Zealand). In respect of
that reseller cost, Google NZ aligns with the OECD’s Transfer Pricing Guidelines and has worked closely with Inland
Revenue to ensure that we comply with the spirit and the letter of the law.
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At an international level Google supports efforts by governments and the OECD to coordinate and ensure
consistency and predictability across taxing jurisdictions.
Google’s support for NZ Communities The Google New Zealand team is now over 70 people based across Auckland and Wellington, and last year we
continued to invest in partnerships, industry programmes and community initiatives across Aotearoa to ensure
all
Kiwis succeed in the digital future. In 2023 we furthered this work by providing grants, sponsorship and Awards for
Kiwis in the following ways:
Commitment to News: We continued and deepened our commitment to a sustainable news ecosystem with
our Google News Initiative projects focused on advancing quality journalism, strengthening publisher
business models and empowering newsrooms through technological innovation. We also continued to sign
commercial agreements with local news businesses for Google News Showcase.
Supporting the General Election: To support the democratic process, Google focused on bringing more
openness to election advertising online - for the second time during our local General Election a publicly
accessible Transparency Report - and making Electoral Commission information easily discoverable on
Search and YouTube. We also partnered with CrossCheck at RMIT FactLab to launch RMIT Fact Lab
Workshops, immersive and interactive training to help newsrooms and community media learn skills to
analyse online information during the Election period.
Support for Education: We awarded Computer Science Professional Development Grants, to promote
diversity in STEM Education, to Waitangi Treaty Grounds and SheSharp.
Supporting Crisis Response: In response to the catastrophic natural disasters at the start of 2023,
Google.org and Googlers collectively donated over NZ$200k to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to
support those affected by the flooding and cyclone. We also continued to roll out innovations such as the
launch of Flood Hub which uses Google’s AI to predict riverine flooding to aid Government, aid organisations
and civil society.
Digital Skills: Through Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, we provided a grant to TupuToa in support of
a programme aimed at increasing representation of Māori and Pacific professionals in technology across
Aotearoa to improve technological outcomes for all.
Digitisation of SMBs: Our latest Economic Impact Report shows Google’s free and paid search advertising
and productivity platforms generated NZ$10.9 billion of economic benefits to thousands of small and
medium-sized businesses in 2022. We’ve been a supporter of the Digital Boost Alliance (MBIE) since 2021
and continue to support the amplification of their Checkable tool, built on Google Cloud.
Online Safety: We partnered with ThroughLine New Zealand, the largest verified network of mental health and
crisis helplines around the world, to add relevant local helpline information to Google Search to increase the
number of crisis helplines that appear at the top of search results in additional languages and countries for
searches related to suicide, domestic violence and other personal crisis topics.
o As a signatory to the NZTech run Aotearoa New Zealand Code of Practice for Online Safety and
Harms, an initiative that commits to reducing the risk of online content that may cause harm to New
Zealanders, we released our first local YouTube Transparency Report in September last year.
Platforming Kiwi Culture: For the first time, we partnered with a local Māori artist, Hori-Te-Ariki Mataki of Ariki
Creative, to design the artwork for our national Waitangi Day Doodle.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me.
Nga mihi nui
Lucinda
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Lucinda Longcroft Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
4
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The Hon. Melissa Lee
Minister for Media and Communications
Parliament Buildings
Private Bag 18041
Wel ington 6160
New Zealand
20 February 2024
CONFIDENTIAL
Kia ora Minister Lee,
On 14 February 2024, we received from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage an Aide Memoire
prepared by Ministry o cials ahead of our meeting with you on 12 December 2023, for the
purposes of seeking our views on whether any parts of it should not be released in response to
an FOI request.
In our response to the Ministry we have agged some paragraphs for redaction as commercial
in con dence.
We are also concerned that the Aide Memoire contains a number of inaccuracies whose
publication could spread misinformation, and we would like to provide you with the fol owing
corrections for your information. In particular:
● Para 5: “Google monetises audience engagement using online advertisements or
on-sel ing personal data to third parties to generate revenue.”
○ Google never sel s personal data to third parties.
● Para 5: “. .Google uses content to drive audiences to its pla orms and keep them using
its services. News content is a popular driver of engagement because most people are
interested in current events or updates on their favourite subject ma ers (e.g., sport,
politics, health, science, the environment, etc.).”
○ This is factual y incorrect. As a general search service, and unlike a social media
service, we do not use content to drive audiences to our pla orm.
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CONFIDENTIAL
○ On the contrary, Google Search drives tra c away from its own pla orm and to
news publishers’ own webpages. In 2020, Google Search sent more than 628
mil ion clicks and visits to NZ news publishers, al owing those publishers to make
money by showing their own ads, showing other articles or converting people
into new paying subscribers. This represents an estimated NZ$44 mil ion worth
of value to news publishers.
○ Our data shows that consumers entering news-seeking queries in Google
Search represent around 2% of al queries performed using Google Search in
New Zealand. Most queries are not news queries, and instead are searching for
other content or consumables for example.
○ Google Search’s New Zealand revenue (not pro t) in 2020 from clicks on ads
displayed in response to possible news-seeking queries was only around
NZ$1.6 mil ion.
● Para 6: “… If users do not click, and many do not, Google keeps al the advertising
revenue that comes from that engagement.”
○ This is false.
○ Google does not generate revenue by showing a user a search results page.
Google generates revenue if a user clicks on an ad to navigate to the
advertiser’s webpage. Any search results page that leads to a user not clicking
on an ad yields no revenue to Google.
We also note the fol owing beliefs and assumptions in the Aide Memoire are unfounded:
● Para 6: “. .Over time, because users come to rely on Google for their news content,
users become less likely to navigate to a news media entity’s webpage organical y.”
○ This statement is not based on evidence. Evidence shows that most people
obtain their news outside Google. Our analysis (which we have shared with the
NZCC) shows that the top 40 New Zealand news websites receive more than
85% of their tra c from sources other than Google. This is separate from
traditional forms of media, such as print or broadcast formats, which stil remain
signi cant channels for users to access news.
○ Further, news businesses can choose whether their content is linked to or
quoted by search engines (and the length of any snippet). We o er both an
opt-out protocol and a variety of tools to help publishers manage what appears
on our pla orms.
● Para 11: “Despite these news media entities having deals with Google, they are stil
facing signi cant di culties in the online news marketplace. It is crucial for the
long-term nancial sustainability of the news media industry that the investment from
digital pla orms is consistent and ongoing.”
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CONFIDENTIAL
○ The issues impacting the nancial sustainability of the online news marketplace
are complex and multifaceted. We note, for instance, data from the Reuters
Institute for Journalism Digital News Report, that nds a global trend towards
lower active participation and rising disengagement with news content,
declining trust in media, and rapidly shi ing consumption habits among younger
generations of consumers. These trends should not be a ributed to a single
company, or class of businesses, nor assumed to be solely an issue of
monetisation.
● Para 12: “There are stil 17 NPA members that do not have a deal, including the
Greymouth Evening Star, Westport News, the Whakatane Beacon, and the Wairoa Star.
As wel , Google has not made a deal with any Māori news media entities.”
○ Google News Showcase is a particular product feature and paid content
licensing program, underpinned by commercial agreements with each
participating publisher. It’s accessible to users of Google Discover and Google
News and provides links to news publishers’ content online.
○ As conveyed to the Government and to the NPA, Google News Showcase has
product requirements in regard to the availability and volume of digital news
being created by a news outlet (approximately 6 news articles published on the
web per day). These NPA members did not meet this criteria and were thus not
included, as acknowledged and accepted by the NPA negotiators during the
process given that a col ective deal was stil reached.
○ We have a longstanding agreement with leading Pasi ka publisher, Paci c Media
Network (and subsequent to the meeting to which the Aide Memoire pertains,
also signed an agreement with Whakaata Māori). Most other Māori and cultural y
and linguistical y diverse publications do not meet the above product
requirements for Google News Showcase.
● Para 15: “. .The Bil does not pre-empt any outcomes of the negotiations between news
media entities and digital pla orms. If a digital pla orm can prove that it does not make
any money from news content, then it wil not be required to provide any
compensation.”
○ The Bil would blatantly tilt the arbitration process in favour of news media
entities. Section 49(2) requires the arbitration panel to select a nal o er that
“fairly compensates the news media entity party for that party’s news content
being made available by the operator’s digital pla orm”, which arguably
presumes compensation is required. Worse, section 49(5) states that the panel,
if it “considers that both o ers fairly compensate the news media entity party[,]
must select the o er that, in its opinion, be er supports sustainable production
3
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CONFIDENTIAL
of New Zealand news content.” That wil always be the higher o er and wil never
be zero.
● Para 19: “A Swiss behavioural economics consultancy rm estimates that Google
generates approximately $718 mil ion (NZD) annual y from Swiss news content.”
○ As the Aide Memoire notes, this report was prepared on behalf of news
publishers. Its quanti cation of the added value of news content to Google
Search is nonsensical, and the spurious methodology has been roundly rejected
by independent third parties.
○ As noted above, Google Search’s New Zealand revenue (not pro t) in 2020 from
clicks on ads that surface on the Search result page in response to possible
news-seeking queries was only around NZ$1.6 mil ion.
● Para 20: “Colombia University recently undertook an assessment of what the US news
media industry is owed by Google and Meta for the use of their news content. .”
○ The Colombia University working paper is based on inaccurate assumptions,
debunked data, and basic errors, as referenced above.
○ We note conclusions from the MCH-funded Sapere report “The implications of
competition and market trends for media plurality in New Zealand” - A report for
the Ministry for Culture and Heritage by Jeff Loan, Kieran Murray, Reinhard
Pauls, Kelvin Woock November 2021
■
We explore the Australian model in more detail in Appendix E and outline
our reasoning for why we do not consider there to be a compel ing case
for New Zealand to adopt a similar approach. Our reasons include that
news firms derive significant benefit from the current arrangements
that drive traffic to their sites, that any imbalance in bargaining
power between New Zealand media firms and global digital
platforms does not undermine the ability of news firms to make
money from their content, and that such an intervention may not
necessarily lead to additional public-interest journalism. (p.43)
■
This Appendix examines the Australian News Media Bargaining Code and
whether there is a case for implementing a similar mechanism in New
Zealand. We ultimately conclude there is not a compelling case for
adopting a similar approach from the perspective of maintaining or
enhancing plurality. (Appendix E, p.75)
● Paras 22-24: “You may want to ask Google why it considers some forms of news
content should be supported and other forms of news content should not.”
○ The Aide Memoire inaccurately suggests that Google seeks to “diminish
non-mainstream news content”. On the contrary, it seems to us obvious that the
Bil ’s objective should be to encourage the production of
public interest news,
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CONFIDENTIAL
regardless of the publisher, ahead of other content that can only loosely be
described as “news” (such as entertainment news). Please see our submissions
for more detail on this point.
● Paras 25-27: “You may want to discuss with Google its experience with Canada’s digital
pla orm exemption and what New Zealand could learn from this process.”
○ We would caution New Zealand against fol owing the path taken by the
Canadian Government. In our view this solution benefits large publishers at the
expense of smal er publishers. We would welcome an opportunity to discuss our
insights from that process with you in more detail and we would suggest the
New Zealand Government should discuss this issue with Meta in particular.
○ While the Aide Memoire notes “Google’s current investment in New Zealand’s
news media industry through News Showcase would likely make it eligible”, this
decision would not be within the Ministry’s power and Google is not assured
that this outcome wil be reached. Our submissions detail our concerns in this
regard.
● Para 28: “Despite Google’s opposition to legislative intervention, it has continued its
investment in countries that have passed online news bargaining legislation. It appears
wil ing to work within the Bil ’s frameworks and continue its investment in news content
if it can obtain assurances to limit its nancial risk.”
○ Google is not opposed to legislative intervention and has consistently engaged
with Governments around the world towards evidence-based news-focused
legislation that leads to fair and workable outcomes.
○ However, as we said in our submissions, when regulation con icts with the core
principles of the open web and creates unworkable operational or nancial risk
to our products, we have regre ul y been le with no other choice but to adjust
how we operate in those jurisdictions. That has included on some occasions
needing to reassess the viability of continuing to o er our existing news
products and services for news content covered by unworkable legislation
○ In accordance with the accompanying nal regulations to Canada’s Online News
Act, published in December, we wil be seeking an exemption, and are working
through that process. While this process is underway, and once we secure an
exemption, we expect to continue making links to news content available to
Canadian users.
○ In order to secure the exemption, we expect to al ocate USD$73m per year to a
single col ective representing eligible Canadian publishers. This contribution to a
single col ective is expected to replace our existing news partnerships and limit
our capacity to deliver news programs in the market.
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CONFIDENTIAL
○ Meta has withdrawn news content from its services in Canada at substantial
cost to publishers, which have reported a 20 to 60% decrease in tra c, and
which is particularly impac ul for smal and medium publishers.
○ In 2022, Czechia’s transposition of Article 15 of EUCD went far beyond the
provisions of the European Directive, creating disproportionate nancial and
operational risks for us. We were le with no choice but to remove previews
from news publisher content, though we were able to retain links and headlines,
which were una ected by the law. We also regre ably shut down News
Showcase and terminated the content licences and commercial partnerships we
had reached with Czech publishers to provide content for that product. If the
law changes, we hope to make our services ful y available again.
● Para 29: “Google News Showcase operates in both Australia and Canada.”
○ As noted above, our contribution to a single col ective in Canada is expected to
replace our existing news partnerships and limit our capacity to deliver news
programs (such as the Google News Initiative). Google News Showcase
operates amongst 28 countries global y.
We appreciate the recognition in the Aide Memoire of Google’s signi cant investment in news
content in New Zealand. We are open to discussing this further with you in the next few weeks.
Ngā mihi,
Lucinda
Lucinda Longcroft
Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New
Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
Cc: Ministry for Culture and Heritage
6
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
From:
Ben Thomas <[email address]>
Sent:
Monday, 11 March 2024 12:20 pm
To:
Francesca Bradley
Cc:
s9(2)(a)
Melissa Lee (MIN); s9(2)(a)
Subject:
Re: Meeting request - Google
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Completed
That’s fantastic, thank you - please lock it in.
Thanks again
Ben
On Mon, 11 Mar 2024 at 10:46 AM, Francesca Bradley <[email address]> wrote:
Dear Ben
The Minister can meet Google representatives on Monday 25 March 1-1:30pm.
Please advise if this time works and her office will send through a calendar invitation.
Regards,
Francesca Bradley
Private Secretary (Media and Communications) | Office of Hon Melissa Lee
Minister for Economic Development | Ethnic Communities | Media and Communications
Associate Minister for ACC
Email: [email address] | Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
From: Ben Thomas <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 2:16 PM
To: Nina Sudiono-Price <s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
1
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
Cc: s9(2)(a)
<s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Subject: Meeting request - Google
Dear s9(2)
(a)
I am writing on behalf of our client, Google, hoping to arrange a meeting with the Minister.
Caroline Rainsford, Google’s New Zealand Country Director, and Lucinda Longcroft, Google’s
Director of Government Relations for Australia/New Zealand, will be in
Wellington on Monday
March 25 and Thursday March 28, and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with Hon.
Melissa Lee.
Please advise if this is possible, and do not hesitate to get in touch if I can provide any more
information.
Regards
Ben
Ben Thomas Director
Capital +s9(2)(a)
capitalnz.com
2
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Hon. Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Media and Communications
Parliament Buildings
Private Bag 18041
Wel ington 6160
New Zealand
Email: [email address]
26 April 2024
Dear Minister Goldsmith,
We convey our warmest congratulations upon your recent appointment as Minister for
Media and Communications and look forward to supporting your work in this por olio,
which is of such importance for New Zealand’s information ecosystem.
Google has engaged on issues of news media regulation with successive governments
and ministers, and we wil continue to o er to share our data and insights to support you
and your Government’s endeavours in this eld. We note in particular that the legislative
process involving news media policy is currently undergoing consideration by the Select
Commi ee for Economic Development, Science and Innovation, which is due to report
by the end of May 2024.
We would welcome an opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to
discuss Google’s concerns with the proposed legislation and approaches to ensuring
New Zealanders are served by a sustainable news media policy. We would be grateful to
explore the possibility of a meeting with you between 1 and 3 May, or in the week of 20
May.
Google’s investment in New Zealand is longstanding - we rst established our o ce in
2007 and now number a team of over 70 with o ces in Auckland and Wel ington. In
2021, we opened our rst purpose built o ce in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland along with
the establishment of our rst local Engineering presence. We welcome your
Government’s e orts to create an enabling environment for innovation, including AI, and
Google New Zealand is commi ed to partnering with the Government to invest in the
country's innovation economy and to develop its unique strengths.
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We look forward to an opportunity to meet with you, and to our continued constructive
engagement with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage under your leadership.
Your sincerely,
Caroline Rainsford
Lucinda Longcro
Country Director, New Zealand
Director, Government A airs & Public Policy, New Zealand
Cc: s9(2)(a)
parliament.govt.nz
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
2
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
From:
s9(2)(a)
on behalf of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Sent:
Monday, 29 April 2024 11:10 am
To:
Francesca Bradley; Sam Lord
Subject:
FW: INV-PG0512 - Letter from Google New Zealand
Attachments:
Letter to Minister Goldsmith - Apr 2024 (1).pdf; INV-PG0512 - Hon Paul Goldsmith -
Invitation cover sheet.docx
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Completed
Categories:
Action
From: Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 7:04 PM
To: s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Cc: Carl Olive <[email address]>; Caroline Rainsford <[email address]>; Hon Paul Goldsmith
<[email address]>
Subject: INV-PG0512 - Letter from Google New Zealand
Kia ora Mr s9(2)(a)
We would be most grateful to convey the attached letter to Minister Goldsmith, with Google's congratulations and a
request to meet.
warm regards,
Lucinda
Lucinda Longcroft
Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
1
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Hon. Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Media and Communications
Parliament Buildings
Private Bag 18041
Wel ington 6160
New Zealand
Email: [email address]
13 May 2024
Dear Minister Goldsmith,
We look forward to meeting with you on 14 May 2024.
We would like to take this opportunity to share some background information to provide
context to our discussions:
● Submission to the Parliamentary Select Commi ee on the Fair Digital News
Bargaining Bil
● Le er to Minister Melissa Lee, 20 February 2024
● ‘When journalism is turned o : Preliminary ndings on the e ects of Meta’s news
ban in Canada’, The Media Ecosystem Observatory
Google’s engagement with the New Zealand news media
Google has had a longstanding commitment to partnering with the New Zealand media
ecosystem. Google News Showcase is our most recent e ort to support publishers of al
sizes across the New Zealand news industry. We have concluded commercial Showcase
deals with over 95% of eligible publishers across a diverse range of the New Zealand news
ecosystem as fol ows:
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List of signed Commercial Partnerships
Showcase Partner
Mastheads
Type
Otago Daily Times
Regional
Otago Daily Times - Dunedin
Regional
Al ied Press
The Star - Dunedin
Local
The Star - Christchurch
Regional
Southland Express
Regional
Ashburton Guardian
Ashburton Guardian
Local
Crux Publishing
Crux
Digital (Local - Queenstown)
Discovery NZ
Newshub
National
Mahurangi Ma ers
Local
Local Ma ers
Hibiscus Ma ers
Nelson App Online
Local (Nelson)
Nelson/Marlborough Weekly
Marlborough App Online
Local (Marlborough)
Newsroom
Newsroom
Digital (National)
NZ Herald
National
Northern Advocate
Regional
Northland Age
Regional
Kāhu
Māori News
Waikato News
Regional
Bay of Plenty Times
Regional
Hawkes Bay Today
Regional
NZME
Rotorua Daily Post
Regional
Whanganui Chronicle
Regional
Stra ord Press
Regional
Manawatu Guardian
Regional
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Kapiti News
Regional
Horowhenua Chronicle
Regional
Te Awamutu Courier
Regional
Gisborne Herald
Regional
SunLive
Regional (Tauranga)
BusinessDesk
Digital Native
National Media Ltd
Wairarapa Times-Age
Regional
National Paci c Radio Trust
Paci c Media Network
Digital (Pasi ka News)
RNZ
RNZ
National
Scoop Media
Scoop.co.nz
National
The Spino
The Spino
National
Stu
National
Stu Auckland
Regional
Waikato Times
Regional
Taranaki Daily News
Local
Manawatū Standard
Local
Stu
The Post
Regional
Nelson Mail
Local
Marlborough Express
Local
The Press
Regional
Timaru Herald
Local
Southland Times
Regional
Times Newspaper Group
Times Online
Local (Howick)
TVNZ
1News
National
Wanaka App
Wanaka App
Regional
Whakaata Māori
Te Ao Māori News
National
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Google News Initiative programs in New Zealand
Through the Google News Initiative (GNI) we have been partnering with news publishers
around the world to build a sustainable, diverse and innovative news ecosystem. The team
o ers training, products and funding to journalists and newsrooms to help strengthen their
work in the digital age, and has reached more than 800 journalists and journalism students in
New Zealand.
2022 Programs
● Digital news business fundamentals for news organisations: The GNI Digital Growth
Program o ered a six-part free business training, consulting and support workshop to
help New Zealand news organisations succeed online.
● Journalist Training Camp: At Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae marae, 25 journalism cadets
representing multiple ethnicities, languages, and the rainbow and disability
communities participated in the Te Rito Training Camp, a digital journalism training
course with the Google News Teaching Fel ow and heard from some of New Zealand’s
leading journalists.
● Digital skil s training for journalists: In partnership with Telum Media, sessions around
the country are free for journalists to learn the latest tools and processes to support
digital reporting. This includes training on tools like Google’s research tool, Pinpoint,
which journalists can use to support their reporting and creative data visualisation
techniques.
● Election policy and misinformation tracking: Building on years of support from the GNI
for Policy New Zealand, the team’s latest iteration provided a digital tool for journalists
to understand and report on ahead of local elections. This creates a database for
candidates’ key election policies, supporting journalists’ ability to track misinformation.
● Media literacy for primary school students: In partnership with Squiz Kids, media
literacy module, “Newshounds,“ is a plug-and-play resource for teachers, children and
their parents, aimed to empower young people to think critical y about the media they
consume and give teachers the con dence to teach media literacy in the classroom.
2023/4 Programs
● News Lab
●
Journalist Training Camp: At Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae marae, 12 Te Rito journalism
cadets from diverse backgrounds participated in the Te Rito Training Camp, a digital
journalism training camp, which used the GNI curriculum. They heard from some of
New Zealand’s and Australia’s leading journalists on investigative techniques, cultural
history, digital skil s and resilience training. For the rst time, 8 Australian Indigenous
cadets and 3 from the Paci c joined the New Zealand based Pasi ka and Maori cadets
at the camp
●
Digital skills training for journalists: GNI partnered with Telum Media to plan 8 open
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sessions around the country, free for journalists to learn the latest tools and processes
to support digital reporting. Training in 2023/24 wil be run by local experts and wil
have a cluster focused on coverage of the election. This includes training on tools like
Google’s research tool, Pinpoint, which journalists can use to support their reporting
and creative data visualisation techniques. 100 NZ journalists were trained in 2023.
Sessions are being held in Auckland and Wel ington in May 2024, covering veri cation
and fact checking, data journalism and digital fundamentals.
●
Squiz Kids continued their media literacy module and focused their e orts on
engaging New Zealand classrooms in the 8 part media literacy module, Newshounds.
The module was aligned with the New Zealand curriculum and 72 kiwi classrooms used
it in 2023.
●
Misinformation partnership with RMIT Fact Lab: 200 NZ journalists took part in 12
sessions, which took journalists and community members through misinformation
scenarios and trained them to respond, in line with best practice. One of these
sessions was in Mandarin and two in Maori.
Google News Initiative
●
Advertising Lab AUNZ 2023/4: The Google News Initiative's major training program
for 2023/4 is the 9-month long Advertising Lab - facilitated by Google, and delivered
by Google Certi ed Publishing Partner and Google Ad Manager 360 Pla orm Partner
A&A.
○ The Lab's primary focus is to equip smal and mid-sized news organisations
with the latest information and support to improve their understanding,
strategy, and infrastructure as it relates to digital advertising with a view to
maximise their site performance and advertising revenue.
○ Over 25 participants from 10 NZ news organisations a ended the workshop
series and are receiving individual implementation support in 2024 to assist in
their digital advertising performance.
●
News Consumer Insights SHIFT/Fundamentals Lab: The Fundamentals Lab is a
rebranded version of the NCI Shi program created in 2018. The Fundamentals Lab is a
col aborative 3 month lab divided in 3 pil ars - Audience Development, Reader Revenue
and Advertising Revenue. The lab is composed of 3 learning sessions and 3 working
group sessions of 90 minutes each.
○ In the last 12 months NCI Shi & Fundamentals Lab have had a total of 13
participants from 10 NZ news organisations.
● In July Google hosted the inaugural
Tagata Moana Media Fono at our o ces,
organised by Paci c Media Network, bringing together al parts of the Pasi ka media
community
● NZ news publishers participated strongly in our Google News Initiative programmes
facilitated by
FT Strategies including:
○
Exec North Star Workshop Series, a two-month intensive programme aimed
5
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
at publishers with a strong online presence with participation from senior
executives aiming to de ne and accelerate progress towards a single
ambitious organisation goal, using the FT’s proprietary North Star methodology
to accelerate digital growth and strengthen commercial sustainability
○
Digital Business Models Workshop Series, a two-month program designed
to help publishers at the beginning of their digital reader revenue journey to
understand and identify reader revenue models in evolving their digital
businesses.
We would be pleased to answer any questions, and provide further information as required.
Your sincerely,
Caroline Rainsford
Lucinda Longcro
Country Director, New Zealand
Director, Government A airs & Public Policy, New Zealand
Cc: s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
6
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
From:
Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Sent:
Monday, 13 May 2024 12:55 pm
To:
Caroline Rainsford
Cc:
Francesca Bradley; s9(2)(a)
s9(2)(a)
Subject:
Background for meeting, 14 May 2024
Attachments:
Whenjournalism.pdf; Letter re news to Minister Melissa Lee - 20 Feb 2024.pdf; Fair
News Bargaining Bill - Google submission to Select Committee (1).pdf; Letter to
Minister Goldsmith - 13 May 2024.pdf
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Completed
Categories:
Meeting
Kia ora s9(2)(a) and Francesca,
In advance of our meeting with Minister Goldsmith on 14 May, we take this opportunity to share some background
information that may provide useful context to our discussions.
Please let me know if there are any questions, or if we can provide any further information.
Ngā mihi,
Lucinda
To help protect your privacy , Microsoft Office prevented automatic do wnload of this picture from the
Internet.
Lucinda Longcroft
Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
On Fri, May 10, 2024 at 10:16 AM Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]> wrote:
Kia ora Francesca,
Thanks for your message - I understand Caroline has been in touch also, and we're grateful for the hybrid meeting
on Tuesday, 14 May at 9.45-10.15am.
(14 May is Federal Budget day in Australia, or I would have also been delighted to also attend in person to meet
with Minister Goldsmith).
We will shortly send across some background materials, to provide for the Minister's information.
warm regards,
Lucinda
To help protect your privacy , Microsoft Office prevented automatic do wnload of this picture from the
Internet.
Lucinda Longcroft
Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
1
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
On Fri, May 10, 2024 at 6:30 AM Caroline Rainsford <[email address]> wrote:
Hi Francesca,
I am based in Auckland but would very much like to meet the Minister in person.
Will he be in Wellington on Tuesday?
If so could we move the meeting to 11am (or later) and I I'll fly down.
Lucinda will join online from Sydney.
Caroline
On Thu, May 9, 2024, 7:12 PM Francesca Bradley <[email address]> wrote:
Hi Lucinda,
The new Minister for Media and Communications is available to meet with Google on Tuesday 14 May 9:45-
10:15am. We will arrange for this meeting to be online.
Please confirm if Google representatives are available at this time.
Kind regards,
Francesca Bradley
Private Secretary (Media and Communications) | Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage | Minister of Justice
Minister for State Owned Enterprises | Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | Minister for Media and Communications
Email: [email address] | www.beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Paul Goldsmith, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected
this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or
distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For
each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a
meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The
proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the
2
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your
information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more
about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releases#MS
From: Francesca Bradley
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 11:05 AM
To: Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Cc: Caroline Rainsford <[email address]>; s9(2)(a)
s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Subject: RE: INV-PG0512 - Letter from Google New Zealand
Kia ora Lucinda,
The Minister would like to meet with Google sometime between next week Monday 13th to Wednesday 15 May.
Can you please advise of your availability and whether this meeting can be in person or online.
Francesca Bradley
Private Secretary (Media and Communications) | Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage | Minister of Justice
Minister for State Owned Enterprises | Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | Minister for Media and Communications
Email: [email address] | www.beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Paul Goldsmith, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected
this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or
distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For
each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a
meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The
proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the
right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your
information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more
about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releases#MS
3
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
From: Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 7:04 PM
To: s9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Cc: Carl Olive <[email address]>; Caroline Rainsford <[email address]>; Hon Paul Goldsmith
<[email address]>
Subject: INV-PG0512 - Letter from Google New Zealand
Kia ora Mr s9(2)(a)
We would be most grateful to convey the attached letter to Minister Goldsmith, with Google's congratulations
and a request to meet.
warm regards,
Lucinda
Lucinda Longcroft Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
4
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
From:
Lucinda Longcroft <[email address]>
Sent:
Wednesday, 22 May 2024 11:40 am
To:
Caroline Rainsford
Cc:
Francesca Bradley; s9(2)(a)
s9(2)(a)
Subject:
Follow up to meeting - Google New Zealand
Attachments:
CCIA_Link-Tax-Failures-Explainer.pdf;
How_Google_Works_with_the_News_Ecosystem_July_2021 (2).pdf; Whenjournalism
(2).pdf; Fair News Bargaining Bill - Google submission to Select Committee (3).pdf
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Completed
Categories:
Weekend bag
Kia ora s9(2)(a)
In our discussion with Minister Goldsmith on 14 May, he had raised some questions and we had promised to share
some further information for the Minister's consideration. I'd be grateful if you could convey the attached letter and
attachments to the Minister - we'd be pleased to answer any questions.
Given the imminent release of the Select Committee's report, we would request a meeting with Minister Goldsmith
at his earliest convenience to discuss the concerns raised herein, and to prepare for next steps. Thank you in
advance.
Ngā mihi,
Lucinda
To help protect your privacy , Microsoft Office prevented automatic do wnload of this picture from the
Internet.
Lucinda Longcroft
Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand
[email address]
+61 s9(2)(a)
1
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
