The best NZ news source, in a serviceable free app, ad-free
The soundest and most trustworthy news source in New Zealand, free of charge, and ad-free, and well written with competent spelling and punctuation (cf. NZME and Stuff).
It is effectively a news website, a radio podcast app, and a streaming source.
This is among my most heavily used apps, and technologically it’s very serviceable. Given that it’s free of charge, the standard of the app is creditable.
My only wishes would be that (1) the CarPlay app had more functionality, as its current functionality is near to nil and it doesn’t sync saved content with the app, you can’t play the latest news or look up programmes on it, (2) the podcasts/streaming could be linked in the app direct to Apple/Sonos speakers like other audio apps (instead of having to use a workaround), (3) there were a night mode.
It is effectively a news website, a radio podcast app, and a streaming source.
This is among my most heavily used apps, and technologically it’s very serviceable. Given that it’s free of charge, the standard of the app is creditable.
My only wishes would be that (1) the CarPlay app had more functionality, as its current functionality is near to nil and it doesn’t sync saved content with the app, you can’t play the latest news or look up programmes on it, (2) the podcasts/streaming could be linked in the app direct to Apple/Sonos speakers like other audio apps (instead of having to use a workaround), (3) there were a night mode.
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Abusing Notifications
I originally downloaded this for the COVID notifications which were very useful. The number of notifications despite only subscribing to "breaking news" has increased to a huge number of irrelevant notifications every day that aren't even slightly "breaking news". There needs to be more granularity, and you're clearly taking advantage of the popularity generated by COVID to now push more notifications on people. Disappointing behaviour from a good news source. At least add a category for only covid notifications alongside the other categories. Although you probably won't because then you'll miss out on getting to spam people with other notifications.
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Great content , but navigation is a faff.
I have been using the RNZ app now for about four months, yet, it will not stick in my head how to get back to “listen live” quickly, without clicking all over the place to eventually get there. The listen live feature should be prominent and easily accessible , yet something in the way this is laid out is preventing me from getting to it at first attempt. I then asked other friends about this to see if it’s my head , but they both immediately agreed with this issue of listen live being tricky to find , you end up on earlier news programmes, it’s frustrating when you’re out Covid walking and get blasted in the ear by things you don’t want , or miss the beginning of the news because you’re on a previous edition.
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Great app, intrusive notifications
RNZ, your app is great, especially the radio player.
The problem is the push notifications for essential/ breaking news, some are genuinely important, and then I get multiple push notifications about rugby, sports players, and other trivial events.
Please allow modification of notifications for people who just want to know if there is an impending tsunami, or a relevant covid level update, or livestream…
The problem is the push notifications for essential/ breaking news, some are genuinely important, and then I get multiple push notifications about rugby, sports players, and other trivial events.
Please allow modification of notifications for people who just want to know if there is an impending tsunami, or a relevant covid level update, or livestream…
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Great app has podcasts and a live stream
Really enjoy it and feel like a fly on the wall listening in to these kiwi conversations
Good, but room for improvement
I like being able to listen to RNZ, but I really wish I could easily see what’s playing now on RNZ Concert. I can’t always wait until the end of the piece to hear who it is, or else I missed it at the beginning. The schedule only gives a time range, which means a process of elimination. Surely in this day and age the title and artist can be listed as the piece is playing?
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Notifications don’t work
Avid online reader, downloaded the app to get notifications on the COVID situations in NZ. But the notifications don’t work at all.
Best source of important news updates
I have switched to the RNZ app as my main source of news. The other NZ news apps send too many notifications for me - I just want important news updates when it matter and not to be constantly flooded. RNZ let’s me control which topics I want notifications for. I also like being able to locate interviews from the radio programme and star them for referral later - some great content there.
I have two requests that would make the app a lot better for me. 1) please add the ability to increase the font size of articles I am reading. 2) please support dark mode.
Thank you.
I have two requests that would make the app a lot better for me. 1) please add the ability to increase the font size of articles I am reading. 2) please support dark mode.
Thank you.
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Response from developer
Thanks for your feedback. You'll be please to hear implementing a dark mode is on our roadmap for future development. I'll add your comment on the font size to our feature request list. Best wishes, RNZ Support
Short Name is problematic
Siri doesn’t recognise your apps short name for RNZ. Because the app doesn’t use the long name Radio New Zealand you can’t say “Hey Siri, open Radio New Zealand” Siri also doesn’t recognise the short name RNZ or even Radio NZ (which is what the app is callled!?)
Please work with Apple to enable a Siri app name that responds to Hey Siri, open RNZ in any combination of (R-enzee, R-enzed, Radio enzed, Radio New Zealand).
Please work with Apple to enable a Siri app name that responds to Hey Siri, open RNZ in any combination of (R-enzee, R-enzed, Radio enzed, Radio New Zealand).
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Not bad
I love the content but have a few wishes for future versions- top of my list would be the ability to set your playlist of saved podcasts to play most recent ones first and delete episodes if you want after playing. Also it’d be great to have a desicated kids app for all the great Children’s Treasure Chest items etc.
Besides that, the app is sometimes a bit buggier than other podcast playing apps but I keep coming back to it due to the breadth of content.
Besides that, the app is sometimes a bit buggier than other podcast playing apps but I keep coming back to it due to the breadth of content.
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