TVNZ didn't know full Veitch story

Radio Network admits knowledge of 'fracas'

Television New Zealand has denied being aware of the severity of sports presenter Tony Veitch's alleged attack on his former partner and believes the company acted responsibly in dealing with the situation.

Veitch was dumped from TVNZ's Beijing Olympics team on Friday - two days after admitting an assault that put Kristin Dunne-Powell in hospital.

The Radio Network have also admitted that senior managers had known since last year of his problems with his former partner.

The Radio Network's general manager of talk programming, Bill Francis, said today he and another executive were notified of Veitch's personal conflict following his return from the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

Mr Francis said he knew that there had been a "fracas" between Veitch and Ms Dunne-Powell and that the broadcaster had paid compensation to her, Radio New Zealand reported.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis said that on 17 December 2007 TVNZ's Head of Television, Head of Corporate Affairs, Head of News and Current Affairs and News and Current Affairs Legal Counsel met with Tony Veitch at his request.

"Tony was seeking advice on a personal matter to do with his former partner. Given the nature of the information he communicated at that meeting our advice to him was that we believed this was a private issue of a civil nature that required Tony and his former partner to work out between them.

"We offered to put him in touch with some counselling and a lawyer to act for him at his own expense.

"There have been media allegations that Tony's former partner was repeatedly kicked, suffered a broken back and needed a wheelchair because of injuries. At no time during the December meeting was the incident described to TVNZ in these terms.

"At no time - then or since - did we advise him to give his former partner any money.

"Some time after that meeting Tony verbally advised TVNZ the issues with his former partner had been resolved in a confidential manner that included a financial settlement."

Mr Ellis said the whole matter had been a shock to the company and its staff.

"Given the information they were told and the particular focus of the December meeting I believe my managers handled this matter appropriately at the time and I stand behind them on their actions.

"Since Monday I have asked for and obtained separate legal advice that has confirmed that the actions of my managers were appropriate at the time.

"There was at the time of the meeting no basis for it to be considered an employment matter, based on the information Tony had shared with my managers."

He said there were still serious questions to be answered about the incident and that it wasn't TVNZ's role to manage any potential police or judicial process.

TVNZ is continuing to work with Tony Veitch and his legal representatives to deal with the future of his role in the company and an announcement will be made in due course.