Bailey's clothes auctioned while she's on holiday

As if things weren't bad enough for the jilted Mother of the Nation, she returned from holiday this week to find staff in the TVNZ building wearing her clothes.

While Judy Bailey was overseas on leave, it seems TVNZ held an in-house auction of the news presenter's wardrobe. But some of the garments were Bailey's own clothes - and definitely not for sale.

TVNZ spokeswoman Avon Adams said it was a mistake.

"What they tend to do is auction off the old clothes ... The tragedy is unfortunately Judy Bailey had some of her own personal garments in with the TVNZ wardrobe and they were inadvertently sold as well.

"We are very, very sorry it's happened, but it was a mistake, a human error."

Bailey was reported to be "ropeable".

A month ago the presenter's 18-year career with TVNZ ended when the state broadcaster decided not to renew her $800,000 contract. She has a month left fronting One News.

The sale was part of a regular cleanout of TVNZ presenters' wardrobes.

Ms Adams said TVNZ planned to take Bailey on a shopping spree: "TVNZ is going to make amends. We are looking at getting her some replacements." She did not know who Bailey's favoured designers were.

She said TVNZ was trying to find out how the incident happened.

Another presenter said it was standard practice for the stylists to go through wardrobes with the presenters.

"To go through them when she's not there is appalling. I don't know that it was deliberate - I think it was a cock-up - but it's bloody disrespectful. And nobody is taking responsibility."

Ms Adams said most of the on-screen wardrobe belonged to TVNZ, which regularly updated presenters' clothes. "I understand a lot of Trelise Cooper pieces that Kate Hawkesby used to wear were sold as well."