Voyager stripped of NZ Media Awards sponsorship after CEO reposts antisemitic content

Voyager Internet has lost its naming rights sponsorship of New Zealand’s national media awards after its chief executive, Seeby Woodhouse, reposted material containing antisemitic conspiracy claims linked to Mein Kampf.

The sponsorship was terminated by the Newspaper Publishers’ Association (NPA), which runs the annual awards.

The repost, which has since been deleted, included a translated passage from Hitler’s manifesto alongside commentary alleging “Jewish power” was working to destroy nations and manipulate world events.

Woodhouse apologised after the repost was raised with him, saying he had shared it late at night without fully reading it. “I apologise unreservedly for retweeting a post that was unacceptable,” he said. “That was a mistake, and I take responsibility for it.” He added, “late at night, I retweeted a post without reading it fully. When it was raised with me, I removed it immediately.”

The incident prompted a strong response from New Zealand media organisations.

Sinead Boucher, chief executive of Stuff and president of the NPA, said the repost was “disseminating hate speech and disinformation, and was completely at odds with the highest ethical and journalistic standards which the NPA is charged with upholding.”

Boucher said Stuff would have boycotted the awards had Voyager remained a sponsor.

She also rejected the argument that the repost had been accidental. “Claiming that it was accidental or careless reposting and did not signify agreement did not excuse the harm caused nor the reputational damage to our industry if Voyager’s sponsorship had been allowed to continue.”

The controversy follows an earlier incident in 2025 in which Woodhouse reposted content narrated by a Holocaust denier. At the time, he publicly apologised and wrote a Substack post urging people to “check twice before sharing” material online.

Jewish community leaders said the latest repost was deeply troubling, given the earlier apology. Juliet Moses, president of the New Zealand Jewish Council, said she had previously accepted Woodhouse’s apology after a personal conversation, but described the latest repost as “absolutely disgusting”. She added she was “not interested in hearing any more excuses”.

Deborah Hart, chair of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, said the incident came amid rising antisemitism in New Zealand and internationally. “At a time at which antisemitism is rising everyone, particularly leaders, need to be very careful about what they say and do so they do not add to the problem.” She added, “It is very disappointing to see Mr Woodhouse reposting antisemitic content, particularly when he has done so previously and apologised.”

Voyager said the repost did not reflect the company’s views.

A company spokesperson said that “what Seeby unintentionally shared does not reflect Voyager’s position as an organisation”.

The removal of Voyager’s sponsorship marks a significant public rebuke from New Zealand’s media sector and reflects growing scrutiny of social media activity by prominent business and public figures.