TVNZ staff to lose jobs

Brendan Pongia and his co-host Sarah Bradley have been asked to reapply for their jobs. Photo / Supplied

TVNZ has told Good Morning hosts Sarah Bradley and Brendan Pongia to reapply for their jobs - and is also holding auditions for the roles.

At least 14 people will lose their jobs when the magazine-style show moves from Wellington to Auckland and TVNZ says it wants to "tap into" talent already in Auckland.

Pippa Wetzell has previously been linked to the show but, in a recent interview, denied she was interested.

Pongia and Bradley have hosted the show since 2006 and are thought to be on annual contracts.

Former presenter Mary Lambie said TVNZ had a history of treating its stars "appallingly".

"I hope that they have wised up and are treating Sarah and Brendan with due respect.

"It fits that the move to Auckland is about a freshen-up and part of that freshen-up process is about the presenter."

A TVNZ spokeswoman said the move north gave the network an opportunity to take a fresh look at the show. "These auditions will tell us what is out there and allow us to tap into the Auckland talent pool. Our existing presenters are still in the frame."

TVNZ has engaged Deloitte to market Wellington's Avalon Studios internationally as an operational production facility.

The spokeswoman added that some production staff would relocate to Auckland at the end of the year, but 14 employees would be made redundant as a result of the move.

"TVNZ is currently working through a process and we're sharing as much information as we can with our people as this progresses."

The spokeswoman said staff being made redundant were being offered "career transition advice" under TVNZ's Employee Assistance Programme.