Stuff controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Stuff files High Court injunction over Neighbourly data breach
Lawsuit filed
Stuff Group applied for an urgent injunction in the High Court at Auckland against unknown defendants to prohibit storing, publishing, sharing or using stolen Neighbourly user data that appeared for sale on a dark web cybercrime marketplace after a breach detected on New Year's Day.
Stated objective. to legally prohibit anyone from storing, publishing, sharing, or otherwise using the stolen file
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — Neighbourly
By Saturday, January 3, the company had begun emailing its member base, estimated to be between 800,000 and 1 million New Zealanders - to confirm that unauthorised access had occurred.
Remediation — Neighbourly
Stuff maintains that the security vulnerability used to access the data has been identified and closed, and the platform is now secure.
Investigation — Neighbourly
The spokesperson said Neighbourly and an external data security team are investigating the claims.
Ongoing disclosure — Neighbourly
It said it would update its members as more information became available.
Source excerpt
A threat actor operating under the pseudonym "Sprigatito" has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The injunction seeks to legally prohibit anyone from storing, publishing, sharing, or otherwise using the stolen file.
In a move to stem the distribution of the stolen material, Stuff confirmed on Monday, January 5, that it had filed proceedings in the High Court against "unknown defendants."
2020
Stuff apologises for its coverage of Māori
Company response
Stuff publicly apologised for its historical portrayal and coverage of Māori, describing its coverage as ranging from racist to blinkered. It said it would continue consultation and engagement and work to repair its relationship with Māori.
Stated objective. to do better in the future
Company response
Apology — Stuff
The media company Stuff is issuing a public apology for the way it has portrayed Māori, from its first editions until now.
Investigation — Stuff
The apology follows Stuff's own investigation into itself - Tā Mātou Pono, Our Truth - which has examined all digital and print publications, sections from business to sport, as well as letters to the editor.
Source excerpt
The media company Stuff is issuing a public apology for the way it has portrayed Māori, from its first editions until now.
"Our coverage of Māori issues over the last 160 years ranged from racist to blinkered. Seldom was it fair or balanced in terms of representing Māori," he said.
This morning Stuff has apologised for decades of racist reporting, and has in its own words “grappled with the truth that our journalism has often unfairly portrayed Maori, ranging from racist to blinkered”.