- Paul Yurisich has resigned as TVNZ’s head of news following an independent review.
- The review looked into the hiring of Breakfast show presenter Kamahl Santamaria, who quit after just 32 days.
- The review found Yurisich, who previously worked with Santamaria at Al Jazeera, did no reference checks on the ex-host.
- TVNZ’s recruitment policy for hiring key presenters was also criticised in the review.
TVNZ’s head of news and current affairs, Paul Yurisich, has stepped down after an independent review into the hiring of beleaguered presenter Kamahl Santamaria.
Yurisich hired Santamaria after previously working with him at Al Jazeera and went on leave while the review was carried out.
The review, carried out by senior employment lawyer Margaret Robin, looked into recruitment policies, processes and practices.
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Paul Yurisich previously worked with ex-Breakfast presenter Kamahl Santamaria at Al Jazeera in Qatar.
Santamaria resigned from TVNZ’s Breakfast show only a month after starting at the company.
He was off-air for more than a week without explanation before his sudden departure.
The review found Yurisich did no reference checks on Santamaria.
It did not address why TVNZ originally told reporters Santamaria was off-air for a “family emergency”, when at least one female colleague had complained about his behaviour.
Additionally, the review found TVNZ’s recruitment policy wasn’t applicable for hiring presenters and therefore wasn’t followed in Santamaria’s situation.
Supplied
The resignation follows a review that was ordered in the wake of the resignation presenter Kamahl Santamaria.
TVNZ’s 1 News led its 6pm daily news bulletin with a breaking news story covering the report.
This has been a dark period in our newsroom,” reporter Nicole Bremner said during the segment.
“The review comes as a relief for many, who just want to move on.”
Bremner said the long-awaited report, released two months after Santamaria left “under a cloud”, had recommended a new way for employees to make complaints, as well as reassessing guidelines for recruitment.
TVNZ chief executive Simon Power confirmed he had accepted Yurisich’s resignation on Wednesday.
“I wish him the best for the future. Phil O’Sullivan will continue in the role of Acting Head of News and Current Affairs.”
Power said the review showed improvements needed to be made in recruitment policies and work was already under way to embed these.
“While the review found TVNZ’s recruitment policy fit for the purpose of most roles at TVNZ, it recommends developing that policy further, so it’s applicable to key presenter positions.
“TVNZ will be amending our policy and determining how best to involve key people in a transparent and consultative way for unique roles, such as presenters.”
Power said TVNZ would also be enhancing its ‘speak up’ policy, which made staff aware of how to raise complaints internally, following the recommendations of the review.
“We’re making the implementation of these recommendations our top priority.”
RNZ
The ex-host resigned from TVNZ’s Breakfast show only a month after starting at the company.
A TVNZ source told Stuff it was sad to see Yurisich resign, “but it needed to happen”.
“The newsroom had become an unhappy place and it was clear he did not have the team supporting him.”
“I also believe Phil [O’Sullivan] is the best person to take the helm, especially with it being in a state of flux with the merger hanging in the ether.
“He is a good news man, but having worked with him through five lockdowns, he is a good leader and supporter of women.”
“That Kamahl acted inappropriately in three weeks of work was appalling. The workplace needs to be safe, especially when you are holding everyone else to account.”
Santamaria has been contacted for comment.
A TVNZ spokesperson said the station would not be releasing the full review, only the summary. Power would not be doing interviews.
National MP Melissa Lee, who is the party’s media and broadcasting spokesperson, said she had “no comment” on Yurisich’s resignation as it was an employment issue rather than a broadcasting one.
“We don’t know the details of what’s happened,” Lee said.
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