Media Insider: Maiki Sherman resignation - TVNZ refuses to release documents, correspondence on events leading to political editor’s departure
Former TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman.
In a three-page response to the Herald, the state broadcaster acknowledges public interest factors into the departure of its political editor but says these are outweighed and that enough information is already in the public domain.
TVNZ is citing multiple reasons for refusing to release documents, internal emails and other correspondence into the events that led to the departure of political editor Maiki Sherman.
It also says it can’t easily provide the number of complaints it’s received about its political gallery staff and their work.
The state broadcaster has cited privacy, confidence and legal professional privilege among reasons for refusing to release any documents surrounding the resignation of one of its highest-profile employees.
Sherman departed TVNZ four weeks ago, saying her role was no longer tenable.
It followed two high-profile incidents, including one in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office a year ago, in which she allegedly directed a homophobic slur at Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr.
Sherman was also suspended from Parliament for five days by Speaker Gerry Brownlee after trying to interview National Party whip Stuart Smith in an off-limits area.
The Herald sought, under the Official Information Act, all correspondence to and from the National Party over that incident, including National’s original complaint, as well as internal TVNZ correspondence and documents.
The Herald also sought all internal and external correspondence in relation to the Burr incident, including any reports to and from the TVNZ board.
We also sought the costs that TVNZ had paid to hire an external law firm, Russell McVeagh, to send a legal letter to NZME’s Newstalk ZB, which was investigating the Burr incident.
In its response, TVNZ cited several legal reasons for withholding the information:
- “to protect the privacy of persons involved, including Ms Sherman and others”;
- “to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, and it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied. To be clear, that is because disclosure of confidential employment information would prejudice TVNZ’s ability to carry out effective employment and personnel management functions”;
- “to maintain legal professional privilege”.
It also gave a fourth reason - “for the protection of people from harassment”.
“You will be aware of Ms Sherman’s public statements in this regard,” said TVNZ in its response to the Herald.
TVNZ said it had considered the public interest argument in considering the request for information.
It said it acknowledged there was “public interest in accountability regarding workplace matters”.
“However, TVNZ considers that given the information already in the public domain, that interest is adequately met without disclosure of the detailed communications requested and does not outweigh the strong privacy, confidentiality, employment relations, and privilege interests identified above.”
The Herald is appealing the matter to the Ombudsman.
Political gallery complaints
The Herald also requested a breakdown of how many complaints had been laid against TVNZ political gallery staff - either for their work or behaviour - since January 1, 2024.
TVNZ also declined that request.
“TVNZ does not have a central repository to record complaints laid against TVNZ political gallery staff,” the broadcaster said.
TVNZ said complaints about political stories and political gallery staff could come via a number of channels: “via our formal complaints channel, via media inquiries, on social media, to the staff themselves, to their managers, or to newsroom leaders”.
There might also be informal complaints.
“... locating ‘all complaints’ would therefore require substantial collation or research (ie, manual searching of phone and email messages across hundreds of TVNZ accounts).”
In any case, the broadcaster said, any formal complaints about any employee would likely be withheld for the reasons it had cited earlier in its letter.
News tip? Please email in confidence - shayne.currie@nzme.co.nz
Sherman departure
Sherman spoke publicly - and briefly - about her departure at the New Zealand Media Awards two weeks ago, as she accepted the award for best political journalist.
“Well, well, well,” Sherman said, as she accepted the prize.
She said she had been nervous about attending the awards in Auckland after weeks of headlines centred on two specific incidents.
“I don’t think anyone had Maiki Sherman resigns as political editor, and Maiki Sherman wins best political journalist of the year in the same fortnight on the election card when it comes to the bingo rounds, but there you go.
“Look, I make light of it, but I will say that it has been quite a difficult time for me, personally.
“A part of me was nervous to come tonight, but an even bigger part of me was determined ... to stare this current situation in the face and be courageous in doing so, [and] with humility as well.”
After thanking her colleagues, including TVNZ political reporter Benedict Collins, Sherman reiterated that the past weeks had been difficult, “but this award simply reaffirms to me everything that I’ve known in my heart – that I am a darn good journalist”.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.