Alison Mau goes to Prime with 'best wishes'

Prime Television has turned its guns on TV3 in its poaching trawl of broadcasters, which yesterday also netted TVNZ's Breakfast host Alison Mau.

Alison Mau resigned from TVNZ yesterday morning to move to a job as senior reporter and fill-in anchor host on Paul Holmes' new current affairs show.

The Herald understands TV3 reporter Selina Song is also on the verge of signing with Prime.

TV3 spokesman Roger Beaumont said Song had resigned.

The Herald understands a senior editor at TVNZ also resigned yesterday afternoon, again heading for Prime, although TVNZ could not confirm it.

They follow Paul Holmes and Holmes' former TVNZ executive producer Philippa Keane, who resigned from TVNZ a month ago.

Prime chief executive Chris Taylor denied claims from TVNZ that news show Tonight host Kate Hawkesby had been approached.

"While I respect the work that Kate does for TVNZ, any speculation regarding such an approach of any description is simply not true. As such, TVNZ have every right to feel supremely confident that Kate will stay put."

Alison Mau, who has worked for TVNZ for 12 years, including two stints on the Breakfast show she currently fronts with Paul Henry, said there was no acrimony between herself and management.

"There has not been a cross word between any of us."

Bill Ralston sent a memo to staff and posted a note on the website advising of her resignation and saying: "We will miss Ali and we wish her well."

Ms Mau's last Breakfast show will be on Christmas Eve.

She would not say what led to her decision, but said she was excited to be reporting news as well as presenting.

"Current affairs reporting is something I have not done before for any length of time, and the opportunity to expand my skills through that outlet was one of the really exciting things about the offer."

She said her husband Simon Dallow, who presents Agenda on TV One, was not following her to Prime.

She said no decisions had been made yet on whether she would continue working on TVNZ's Home Front lifestyle show.