Fair Go to air show into alleged attacker

Gordon Harcourt. Photo / Jason Dorday

Fair Go will broadcast an investigation into a Mt Maunganui car dealer but will not say whether footage of an alleged assault against reporter Gordon Harcourt will be shown.

About 3.30pm on Friday, Harcourt was allegedly punched three times on a footpath as he was about to record a piece for the long-running show.

He suffered a black eye, a bleeding nose and suspected concussion but has returned to work.

A 47-year-old company director, the subject of a previous Fair Go investigation, has been charged with assault and will appear in Tauranga District Court on Thursday.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier of Tauranga police said the man also faced a charge of intentional damage after a camera was damaged during the alleged scuffle.

TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills would not reveal the nature of Fair Go's investigation into the accused but said Harcourt would present a story related to the inquiry.

Asked if footage from the alleged assault would be shown she said: "All I will say is tune in on Wednesday night".

Fair Go's Facebook page was inundated with messages of support for the reporter.

Harcourt posted a brief message saying his shoot at Mt Maunganui was "more eventful than planned" but he could not comment further as the matter was before the courts.

"I'm fine apart from a bit of a sore head, though the makeup team might have quite a challenge on their hands getting me presentable for this week's show," he said. "Well, more of a challenge than usual."

In his earlier investigation, Harcourt exposed the car yard for offering $800 for a repossessed car it later put back on the lot for $6995.

The Fair Go probe also revealed the arrested man runs a finance company used by the car yard which charges rates of 30 to 35 per cent and is aimed at beneficiaries and low-income earners.

- additional reporting NZPA