A radio host who called Israeli people "genocidal maniacs" during a live broadcast will not be taken off air despite a listener demanding his immediate removal.
Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers made the comments during a Summer Nights programme broadcast on January 16, 2026.
A listener, known only as EM, filed a complaint arguing the comment was hostile, anti-Semitic and prejudiced against Jewish people. EM later referred the matter to the broadcasting authority, demanding that Travers be taken off the air immediately.
Broadcaster New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) initially upheld the complaint under the discrimination and denigration standard, apologising to the listener and counselling the host.
The broadcasting authority has now backed that response, ruling that further action against the host was not warranted and the network's disciplinary steps were sufficient.
