Fraser to go from TVNZ immediately

TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser will be replaced by a temporary CEO this week, it was announced today.

A joint statement from Fraser and TVNZ chairman Craig Boyce said the decision had been taken after a meeting this morning.

They said Fraser would be able to provide "advice and assistance" to the acting chief executive until a permanent replacement is in place.

Meanwhile, the National Party has said the TVNZ board is "stacked with political appointees" and the network is wide open to interference.

Mr Fraser last night announced he was resigning, saying he had lost confidence in the board.

His resignation came after months of speculation that he and head of news Bill Ralston could be on the way out because of mounting concern over TVNZ's falling news ratings and the departure of top presenters like Paul Holmes and Judy Bailey.

Mr Fraser said TVNZ's board was not a commercial one. It was politically appointed, which made it "even more critical" that it did not interfere in the day-to-day running of the company -- particularly news and current affairs. 

Mr Boyce said he accepted Mr Fraser's resignation with regret, and thanked him for his "considerable efforts" over nearly four years.

But he vehemently denied accusations of political interference.

National's broadcasting spokeswoman, Georgina te Heuheu, said Mr Fraser's resignation would not solve TVNZ's problems.

"He was working in an environment wide open to political interference, from government to board and from board to management," she said.

"Labour's broadcasting formula is unworkable...the requirements of TVNZ's charter do not sit at all comfortably with the requirements of a commercial operation in a cut-throat market."

Ms te Heuheu said political interference would have made Mr Fraser's job near impossible.

Mr Fraser has not explained the details of the reason for his resignation, but Ms te Heuheu said it was obvious the board had been interfering with news and current affairs.

However, Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed confidence in TVNZ's board.

She said today there had clearly been a breakdown in the relationship between Mr Fraser and the board. However she still had confidence in the board.

"The board of directors . . . does not actually get involved in the operational issues of the company," she said on TVNZ's Breakfast show.

"The board is a governance board, its relationship is with the chief executive and clearly that relationship broke down on Friday."

She said Mr Boyce carried responsibility for the board and he would meet Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey later today to give a full explanation.

She did not know if Mr Maharey would also meet with Mr Fraser.

But she said: "It appears the chief executive is hinting at governance issues.

"Governance on the other hand is saying they have a legitimate interest in the area they raised with him and he objected to it. It is simply that difference of opinion around the board table."

- NZPA