This afternoon TVNZ News and Current Affairs staff met to discuss their concerns about the comments attributed to the Chairman, Dr Ross Armstrong, in the Independent this week.

TVNZ Chief Executive, Mr Rick Ellis, said it is regrettable that News and Current Affairs staff took the course to publicly release the resolution of that meeting before directly communicating their concerns to management and the Board.

He stresses the meeting of News and Current Affairs staff was entirely an independent initiative.

Mr Ellis reiterated that the appointment of a new Managing Editor of News and Current Affairs is a management-led process (save for any referral to the Board Human Resources and Remuneration Sub-Committee), and further stated that he is completely satisfied as to the editorial independence and integrity of TVNZ News and Current Affairs.

Mr Ellis is not prepared to comment further until he has discussed the issue with the Board.

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