Auckland, New Zealand has seen a rise in public trust in news for the first time since records began in 2020. According to the latest Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand report, 37% of respondents now trust the news generally, up from 32% last year.
The report also shows 50% now trust the news they personally consume, up five percentage points from 45% in 2025. The increase is attributed to greater public awareness of disinformation, deep fakes, and AI-generated content.
Respondents who trusted news cited fact-checked stories with reputable sources, reported on by multiple outlets, as trustworthy. They also valued public-interest journalism for its professionalism, accountability, and verification processes.
While the recent upturn doesn't alter the overall downward trend in trust over time, it suggests that things are changing – potentially for the better.
