As media giant NZME shuts publications and lays off staff, New Zealand's major publishers are hoping for a temporary lifeline following a hearing in front of parliament's Epidemic Response select committee.

Possible government assistance to the media sector was on the agenda after prime minister Jacinda Ardern expressed concern at the weekend, adding that the pandemic had shown the industry's importance. "We need to make sure they are also viable post coronavirus," she said at the weekend.

Former Fairfax NZ business Stuff was also among those at the meeting, attended by broadcasting minister Kris Faafoi, with others involved including MediaWorks, TVNZ, RNZ, Newsroom, The Spinoff and the National Business Review.

NZME has announced it is making more than 200 positions redundant - amounting to about 15 per cent of its workforce - and asking those remaining to accept a pay cut for 12 weeks, while chief executive Michael Boggs and directors have also taken a 20 per cent cut.

In a statement to the NZX, NZME said it was expecting April advertising revenues to be about half of those for the same period last year. Cost savings would "partially offset" anticipated revenue declines.

Cuts are mostly in sports, and lifestyle and entertainment divisions, NZME having closed its Radio Sport following cancellation and suspension of most local, national and international events.

Earlier this month, Bauer Media announced it was closing NZ operations immediately.