Board created a toxic wasteland, says Holmes

Paul Holmes

Former TVNZ presenter Paul Holmes has called for the organisation's board to be sacked, calling its members "straightjacket party apparatchiks".

Holmes, one of TVNZ's few former stars to have jumped before he was pushed, says he is saddened that the once-proud broadcaster is now a "toxic wasteland".

He says it is all the fault of the board, which has made the fatal mistake of "messing with a winner".

"It all comes down to a government-appointed board with only one idea - presenters' salaries.

"I love that company and so do all the people who work there; the wonderful people who've been driven overseas.

"It was once a proud, great company. It's now a toxic wasteland, with so much talent brutalised."

He says it is simply "not right" that the staff feel they are at war with management. "This is our national broadcaster, owned by all of us. It's got to be better governed."

While Holmes has apparently kissed and made up with news boss Bill Ralston, he is less sanguine about chief executive Ian Fraser.

"Where is he now? He's nowhere to seen. If you're happy to spout off at the good times, you've gotta be there in the bad times to take the tough questions. Seems to me that's the test of a man."

On Thursday, Holmes used his show on Prime to hit back at former colleague Susan Wood for publicly questioning his expense claims, asking to be left out of her employment dispute.

But come Friday, the two had made up. "Yes, I was upset at what I saw as some kind of snooping on Susan's part," he said. "Susan called me. She was very upset and wanted to explain. There was a misunderstanding. I have known her a long time and I feel for her as I feel for all the people still there."

According to Holmes, the decline in TV One's ratings in the prime-time news slot has amazed the entire industry.

"As an old hand, let me tell the board something because I know a little of this. You don't gamble with three basic truths.

"One: don't [mess] with a winner. Two: don't take a winner for granted. Three: there's nothing harder than stopping a downward slide. It's a long way back."

To those who say he should know all about that, he cites this week's radio ratings. His Newstalk ZB show kept its number one position and increased its audience share.

– HERALD ON SUNDAY