Tony Veitch

Tony Colin Veitch is a New Zealand sports broadcaster who hosted a Radio Sport breakfast show and the ONE News 6pm sports news until July, 2008. He was also involved with other TVNZ programmes such as "A Game of Two Halves" and "Veitch's View". In 2007 he won a New Zealand TV Guide "Best on the Box Award" for Best Sport Presenter. [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00208.htm Best On The Box Winners Announced] . "Scoop.co.nz". 15 November 2007.]

uspension

On 7 July, 2008, Fairfax Media publications The Press and the Dominion Post reported that in early 2006 Veitch seriously assaulted his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell. The papers alleged that the injuries kept Dunne-Powell away from work for several months and that she had developed a breakdown that subsequently forced her to quit a managerial position at Vodafone New Zealand. The papers also said Veitch allegedly paid Dunne-Powell NZ$100,000 not to reveal the assault publicly, and to explain the injuries as a result of falling down stairs. [cite web | title=TV star's secret assault payout | publisher=The Press | date=2008-07-07 | accessdate=2008-07-14 | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4610530a6009.html] In the following days it was alleged that the assault broke Dunne-Powell's back in four places and that she was temporarily wheelchair bound. [cite web | title=Police could investigate Veitch with no complaint | publisher=The Press | date=2008-07-09 | accessdate=2008-07-14 | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4613040a6009.html]

The day after the assault allegations were made public, Veitch turned up to work on Radio Sport, although Andrew Saville presented the sports news on ONE News. TVNZ released a media statement saying “Sports Presenter Tony Veitch has agreed to step down from his role with TVNZ while media allegations are considered by the broadcaster.” It reported that “head of news and current affairs Anthony Flannery said that Mr Veitch would step down while a review was conducted into the allegations made against him by some media organisations.” He added that due to the nature of the allegations——in particular the privacy of others, he could not make comment further.

On Wednesday 9 July, Veitch held a press conference where he said he “broke, I lashed out”. He said that although he had no excuses he had been working seven days a week and was at his bottom. He was not on either of his programs that day.

On Thursday 10 July Rick Ellis released a statement that ONE News’ Lisa Owen described as "bland". It said "Television New Zealand has a review process underway regarding disclosures by sports presenter Tony Veitch. We are giving the situation our most serious consideration, and Tony's personal statement today will be taken into account by the review process," he said. "Violence is a major issue in New Zealand and the profile of our on air presenters is important to the public and to our organisation."

Ellis said TVNZ had had a number of conversations with Veitch and his legal representatives, and the review process was being run by the Heads of Television, Human Resources and News and Current Affairs.

Resignation

Veitch issued a media statement on July 17 2008 announcing his resignation from both TVNZ and Radio Sport. [cite web | title=Veitch resigns from TVNZ and TRN | publisher=NZ Herald| date=2008-07-17 | accessdate=2008-07-17 | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10522093] He was quoted as saying that "TVNZ has been my life, I have loved my job. There have been a lot of statements made that are untrue which make it untenable now for me to continue in my current roles with TVNZ and the Radio Network."

The Radio Network and TVNZ accepted his resignation.

References