Summarised by Centrist
TVNZ was escorted out of the Pentagon moments before Defence Minister Judith Collins met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, despite prior approval to film the meeting’s opening.
The order to revoke access reportedly came from Hegseth’s office, which later said only official footage would be released.
1News correspondent Logan Church said Pentagon staff had earlier confirmed permission for coverage, but minutes before Collins arrived, a media liaison officer informed him it had been withdrawn.
The Pentagon later claimed the change was “purely logistical,” citing Hegseth’s delay following a White House engagement. Instead of Hegseth, Collins was first greeted by Under-Secretary of Defence Eldridge Colby.
The move came amid broader tensions between the Pentagon and journalists. Most of the Pentagon press corps had recently surrendered their credentials after refusing to sign a pledge limiting reporting to official channels. Collins said she was unaware of the media’s removal until after the meeting. “That was obviously too late for us to intervene,” she told 1News.
Collins described her talks with Hegseth as “productive,” citing cooperation on the Indo-Pacific, foreign military sales rules, and the purchase of new Seahawk helicopters. The Pentagon said the meeting reaffirmed “the United States’ enduring commitment to New Zealand and our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Editor’s note: While no reason was given for TVNZ’s ejection from the Pentagon, the state-funded broadcaster has a long record of adversarial coverage toward Donald Trump. Its US correspondent, Logan Church, has portrayed Trump’s presidency as chaotic and divisive, producing stories such as “Meet the Republicans regretting they ever supported Donald Trump” and “A McDonald’s visit and the pro-Harris Republicans.”
That tone, coupled with the infamous Breakfast segment where hosts shot a Trump doll on air – later deemed “pushing the boundaries of acceptable humour” – may have fed the impression in Washington that TVNZ is openly hostile. Whether coincidence or consequence, it’s not hard to see why the Trump administration might treat the network with suspicion.
Image: Touch Of Light
