Fair Go staff were "very upset" and protested strongly against a senior manager's instruction not to produce items that would offend advertisers, says Labour's broadcasting spokeswoman Clare Curran.
Ms Curran yesterday claimed TV One and TV2 boss Jeff Latch gave the instruction to reporters and other staff at TVNZ's long running and popular consumer affairs show about two weeks ago.
Appearing before Parliament's commerce committee, TVNZ management, including Mr Latch gave assurances that the state-owned broadcaster placed high value on the integrity of its news and current affairs programme.
"How then can you explain reports that TVNZ head of programming called a meeting of Fair Go staff, including all reporters together in the last couple of weeks and instructed them not to produce programmes that would upset advertisers?" Ms Curran asked.
Mr Latch said he was invited "as a guest" to the meeting of Fair Go staff "to share my views as to the essence of that programme and what would make it successful going forward".