Eric Young 'on leave' from TVNZ

Eric Young

Television New Zealand has declined to confirm whether presenter Eric Young's absence from his late night news reading spot is stress related.

Young presented Monday's edition of Tonight, but has not appeared on the show since.

The Dominion-Post newspaper reported today he had a stress-related illness stemming from the arrival of a new producer on the show in February.

"Eric Young is currently on leave. Any more than that I cannot say," TVNZ spokeswoman Avon Adams told NZPA.

It was not known when Young would return to work, she said.

She declined to comment on whether Young's absence resulted from his replacement as Tonight producer by David Lomas.

TVNZ's public affairs manager Megan Richards told NZPA: "Eric is taking some time off. He is not on sick leave."

She said no further details could be released because it was a "human resources issue'', which is confidential.

- NZPA