Karen Olsen says she ended her 22-year career at TVNZ because she didn't want to work weekends. Photo/Doug Sherring
Karen Olsen says she ended her 22-year career at TVNZ because she didn't want to work weekends. Photo/Doug Sherring
Karen Olsen has finally cleared up the cloud of rumours surrounding her exit from TVNZ after a 22-year career - she didn't want to work weekends.
Olsen, 49, had stayed mum about the reasons behind her shock decision to leave her weather-presenting role at TVNZ. Until now.
She tells this week's edition of Woman's Weekly that changes to her role under restructuring at TVNZ meant she would be working more Saturdays and Sundays and she didn't want to be away from her family.
"I didn't want to sacrifice time with my children ... our weekends are precious. They're teenagers now and I'm not going to have them around for much longer," Olsen tells the magazine.
Karen Olsen with her children Amelia and Campbell Ayres in 2006.
"It came out of the blue and it wasn't a decision I wanted to make - I love my job.
"I'm such a weather nerd that it was perfect for me. So it was quite sad."
Olsen, who teared up during the interview while talking about her departure, said she had no hard feelings towards TVNZ and was looking forward to spending more time with her two children, aged 16 and 14, over the summer.
She planned to attend all their sports games, taken them camping over Christmas and "hang out with them" along with her husband Roydon, a pilot.
She also told Woman's Weekly her exit had been so quick she'd had no time to find new employment, but she'd like to return to television.
"This has all been quite sudden, so I haven't really had time to look into anything else. But I really do believe that when one door closes, another opens."
Olsen announced her resignation on October 1 via a statement that said she'd loved her time at the state-owned broadcaster and praised the "amazing experiences and opportunities" she'd had.
"Reporting live from Antarctica five years ago was an absolute highlight and something I will carry with me for life. I've also enjoyed working with a really good bunch of people and will miss them," Olsen said.
When contacted by the Herald at the time, she'd said she could "get in big trouble" if she commented.
"There's a lot of that happening. It's still a process that's ongoing ... I'm pretty sure it will all become clear in two or three days," she said.
Karen Olsen in 2000.
She continued to stay silent about her reasons for leaving even as she completed her last weather forecast for One News on November 16, ending a 22-year career with the network.
One News presenter Simon Dallow paid tribute to Olsen at the time, calling her "gracious, humble and warm and the absolute weather professional".
Olsen's departure comes as TVNZ restructured its newsroom, admitting there would be "some possible staff redeployment" and "an estimated eight to 10 roles impacted".
Head of news and current affairs John Gillespie said the proposed changes were done to refine TVNZ's news-gathering processes.
