KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating a TVNZ accountant who was fired from the state broadcaster after an inquiry into cheques totalling up to $70,000.
The investigation focused on a number of cheques written out to Television New Zealand and cashed with a finance company on the North Shore.
The internal TVNZ inquiry discovered that up to five cheques, written out by businesses as payment for advertising bills, had been cashed by the accountant with Acorn Finance in November and December.
Between $60,000 and $70,000 went missing from TVNZ coffers, but the money has since been recovered.
The accountant was dismissed after a disciplinary meeting with management shortly before Christmas.
TVNZ filed a complaint with the police in December but, months later, the matter remains unresolved.
Detective Sergeant Craig McCormack confirmed that police were investigating but declined to comment further. The accountant has yet to be interviewed by officers.
A TVNZ spokeswoman confirmed an employee was dismissed before Christmas for dishonesty after an internal investigation. She said the employee, whom she could not name, was with TVNZ for only six weeks.
Attempts to contact the accountant were unsuccessful.
