Bailey relieved hard year is over

TVNZ newsreader Judy Bailey was tearful and emotional before leaving on her three-week holiday.

She did so with plaudits from colleagues - including former One News co-anchor Richard Long and former weatherman Jim Hickey.

Long, who saw Bailey on Thursday, said: "She's taking it bloody well. Relieved it was all over. She has had a very tough last year."

He said Bailey had suffered considerably after news of her $800,000 pay rise became public. The pay rise came through "no fault of her own", he said, backing claims it had been pushed on her.

Long said TV3 had the "family feel" in presenters that "TVNZ used to have".

Hickey said there was a perception of "massive upheaval" at TVNZ which was "pretty dramatic".

"It's a tragedy to see someone like Judy go. She's very pleased to get out of there. Richard Long was chopped off at the knees. [One News boss] Mel Jones was chopped off at the knees."

He backed Long's claim over Bailey's pay rise. "Judy did not go in and ask for that sort of money."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY