Mau stands in for Henry

Ali Mau will be a guest presenter on the Paul Henry Show next week.

Ali Mau will be back on TV screens next week - though in the unaccustomed position of hosting a TV3 show.

The popular Australian-born journalist will be a guest presenter of the Paul Henry Show as the colourful host takes his first break since the late night show began in January.

Henry is holidaying in the United States.

Mau will be one of several hosts during Henry's break. The others include Rebecca Wright, a reporter on the show, and former Nightline host Bill Ralston.

Mau is building up a CV in local channels, having also worked previously at Prime.

But she has spent most of her television career at the state broadcaster, since joining TVNZ in 1993 on business-related current affairs show Made in New Zealand.

She has hosted Breakfast and was a founding host of Seven Sharp. She left the show in December after secret plans to dump her were leaked to media.

Paul Henry Show executive producer Fiona Macmillan said of the different-host-each-night approach. "Our 'topical not typical' approach is well and truly preserved while Paul is away."

• The Paul Henry Show, TV3, week nights at 10.30pm.