Media8 NZ to Transition Taranaki Airs Ownership Following Three Seasons at the Helm

After three seasons of ownership, Media8 NZ has made the decision to transition its involvement in the Taranaki Airs and seek a new ownership group to take the franchise into the 2027 season and beyond.

When we acquired the Airs, our goal was simple: create a professional basketball organisation, build a sustainable business and deliver the best entertainment product possible for the region. Over that period, we invested significant time, energy and resources into the club and committed more than $2 million towards its operation and growth.

While there were many challenges off the court, we are incredibly proud of what was achieved on it.

The Airs enjoyed the most sustained success in the club's history during our ownership. Consecutive semi-final appearances and consistent competitiveness against the league's leading teams demonstrated what can be achieved when strong basketball people are given the opportunity to build a winning culture.

While the long-term financial challenges ultimately proved difficult to overcome, we leave knowing that the players, coaches and basketball operations staff delivered results that established one of the most successful periods the franchise has ever experienced.

Professional sport is ultimately dependent on a combination of community support, commercial backing and financial sustainability. Despite our best efforts, the economic environment, declining sponsorship opportunities and a sustained campaign of public criticism throughout the 2026 season created significant challenges in establishing a long-term sustainable model for the franchise.

Regardless of whether that criticism was justified or not, the commercial impact was real. Sponsorship discussions became more difficult, community support became more fragmented and the ability to build a financially sustainable future was significantly affected.

As business owners, there comes a point where you must be honest about the realities of the situation. We have reached that point.

This decision has not been made lightly. We have worked tirelessly over the past three years to strengthen the organisation, professionalise operations and create a platform for future success. While we are disappointed that we have not been able to achieve the level of sustainability required, we remain incredibly proud of what was accomplished during our time with the club.

We sincerely thank our players, coaches, staff, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and the many people who worked alongside us throughout this journey.

Professional sport relies on passionate people and there have been many who have given their time and energy to help the Airs succeed.

A Special Thank You

A special acknowledgement must go to Andrew Green.

Over the past three seasons, Drew has been far more than an assistant coach. He has been the steady hand, the trusted voice and the person who consistently put the club first regardless of the circumstances. In many ways, he became the stable source of truth on the ground and someone the ownership group could always rely upon.

Drew is one of the most capable basketball minds in New Zealand and played a significant role in helping deliver the most successful period in the club's history. The ownership group would highly recommend him for any leadership, coaching or high-performance role within professional basketball.

As a fun fact, Drew was offered the head coaching position on two separate occasions during our ownership and declined both times, choosing instead to continue supporting the club and its people in the role he believed was best for the organisation.

People like Drew are the reason clubs survive through difficult periods, and the Airs are undoubtedly better for having had him involved.

Media8 NZ is now working through a process to transition the franchise for the 2027 season. We genuinely hope the next ownership group can build upon the foundations that have been established and continue to grow basketball in the region.

While our chapter with the Airs is coming to an end, we leave knowing we gave everything we had to the club. We made decisions we believed were necessary to create a sustainable future, even when those decisions were not always popular. Not every decision was universally supported, but every decision was made with the best interests of the organisation and its long-term future in mind.

We would like to thank the New Zealand National Basketball League, our fellow clubs, partners and supporters for their support over the past three seasons.

Most importantly, we wish the people of Taranaki and the future custodians of the franchise every success. We hope the Airs continue to thrive and remain a source of pride for the region for many years to come.

The negotiations with a potential purchaser are confidential and no further public comment will be made until those negotiations are concluded

Brett McCallum

Director

Media8 NZ Ltd