Susan Wood leaves CloseUp

4 December, 2006

Susan Wood leaves CloseUp

CloseUp presenter Susan Wood has today resigned from TVNZ, and will no longer appear on screen for the immediate future.

For the last few weeks, Susan's health has been a matter for serious concern. She will be undergoing surgery next week to remove a lump on her neck following an inconclusive biopsy.

For the immediate future, Susan will be concentrating on her health and family.

"After 21 fantastic years with TVNZ I feel I have achieved all I can", she says. "About 500,000 people watch CloseUp every night and it has been a brilliant year. I'd like to thank all of the team for their support and contribution towards making the programme a success. It's now time for me to focus on removing some of the stress from my life. I look forward to taking up some new challenges in the New Year".

During Susan's time at TVNZ she has been the company's first Australian correspondent, first host for Midday and Breakfast, fronted Today Live, and has been with the Holmes/CloseUp current affairs programmes longer than anyone else.

TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs, Bill Ralston, says he wishes Susan was able to remain with CloseUp but his immediate concern is Susan's health and wellbeing.

"Susan has been an incredibly loyal and hardworking journalist. It will be clear now that the past few weeks have been extremely difficult for her, and she has acquitted herself with absolute professionalism", he says.

"I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of all of us at TVNZ to thank her for being the capable, competent and dedicated person that she is. The critical thing right now is that she looks after herself. We will all be hoping for a positive outcome".

From this evening, Mark Sainsbury and Paul Henry will share presenting duties for CloseUp until a permanent arrangement is in place in the New Year.

ENDS

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