Maori TV sacks 'disloyal' presenter

Julian Wilcox

Maori television presenter Julian Wilcox has been sacked after the leaking of an internal email asking staff to declare Maori Party membership, says the channel's chief executive Jim Mather.

He said Mr Wilcox did not leak the email himself, but an internal investigation found "compelling" evidence he was involved in the issue, which featured on TV3 and in the New Zealand Herald.

Maori Party co-leader and MP Dr Pita Sharples had questioned the channel's management and wants to meet Mr Mather to discuss it.

The sacking follows a high-profile employment dispute with newsreader Ngarimu Daniels. She won the case, in which she gave evidence she had been banned from wearing a red, white and black necklace because of its links to the Maori Party logo.

In this case, an internal email asked staff to declare if they were Maori Party members. It was withdrawn after protests and staff received an apology, although it later featured on TV3 and in the New Zealand Herald.

Mr Wilcox, news and current affairs presenter, refused to discuss the case publicly although he told the Herald On Sunday: "I was surprised and shocked. I can't say much more than that. I'm talking to lawyers."

Mr Mather said: "This is a clear-cut case of a high-profile staff member proactively contributing to negative publicity for Maori Television. It is a clear-cut case of disloyalty to our organisation."

Dr Sharples said he wanted to discuss the sacking, which was the second "major issue" involving staff and politics.

"It suggests there is no Maori kaupapa or infrastructure in place to handle these sorts of issues. It is disturbing to see there is friction in the administration at the level being reported."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY