Spy: Christmas has been cancelled at TVNZ due to lack of interest

Every year the publicly funded station throws a company-wide Christmas party and that function will still go ahead. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

The state broadcaster has been forced to pull the plug on its news and current affairs festive party because staff didn't want to go.

Every year the publicly funded station throws a company-wide Christmas party and that function will still go ahead.

But journalists and crew members gave a firm "bah, humbug" to the traditional self-paid department bash. Tickets were $20 and when few sold, the company canned the event.

"In previous years news and current affairs have had an additional self-funded event," said a TVNZ spokeswoman.

"Unfortunately, this event has struggled to cover its costs so after gauging staff interest a decision was made that it would not go ahead this year."

TVNZ would have its usual company-wide Christmas function as well as a kids' Christmas party, "which is always a highlight for families", the spokeswoman added.

MediaWorks, parent company of TVNZ's free-to-air rival, TV3, confirmed its Christmas celebrations will go ahead as planned.

It has been a tumultuous year at the network, which saw the cancellation of John Campbell's nightly current affairs show and its journalists voicing opposition to many of the changes at the network. That should make for some interesting talk around the tinsel.