KEY POINTS:
I know this is a political column but I need to talk about Tony Veitch. Anyway, what is more political than TVNZ?
As I recently said to someone who was trying to understand that company, TVNZ is a vertically-anally-nasally integrated organisation. There is a clearly defined management totem pole, with those at the bottom constantly nervously referring upwards for decisions and those at the top imperiously issuing orders downwards.
While the Government is refusing to comment on the Veitch affair it is reported that the Prime Minister is appalled.
I have no doubt that soon after Helen Clark read the original Dominion Post report she had an urgent word with Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard.
I am convinced Mallard would have then spoken to TVNZ Board chairman Sir John Anderson who, in turn, would have talked to Rick Ellis, TVNZ's CEO. Ellis would have issued instructions to his Head of Television Jeff Latch who would have then contacted Anthony Flannery, Head of News and Current Affairs.
After a long talk with the Head of TVNZ's Human Resources, Flannery would eventually have spoken to Veitch.
The message rumbling down the food chain would have been the same at every level but probably picking up in volume and intensity by the time it reached Flannery with the impact of a large rock falling on his head.
"If the allegations are true, Veitch must go but, for God's sake, there cannot be a payout."
Flannery's initial conversation with Veitch would have been a very tentative "Tell me it ain't so" kind of chat. Whatever Veitch told him it must not have been an entirely full and frank disclosure because the sports reader was allowed on air that night happily smiling and joking with his slightly distraught looking anchors.
As further details emerged of the assault, both sides would have started "tooling up". Employment lawyers, communications managers and HR specialists would have formed a protective circle in Flannery's office.
Ellis appointed Latch, Flannery and the Head of Human Resources to formally review the circumstances of the Veitch case, which all would have agreed was an excellent stalling tactic while they waited to see if the storm would blow over.
Veitch was soon armed with one of the country's top employment lawyers, a big PR firm and another PR person who specialises in celebrity crisis management.
A Mexican stand-off then ensued. TVNZ would be thinking it could not afford to put a foot wrong in terms of employment law because it could end in the circus of a lengthy, drawn-out public battle through the Employment Court. Worse, the court and the law is crazy enough to possibly award Veitch damages for unfair dismissal, which would certainly send Clark into orbit.
Flannery appeared to be handling the issue by remote control, out of town on some tour of TVNZ's far-flung outposts. His absence led to an outbreak of anarchy in the newsroom.
A hosed-off One News reporter covering the story appeared in a "live cross" in the 6pm bulletin, denouncing Flannery for failing to respond to her questions and dismissing Rick Ellis' short press statement on the affair as "bland". In a wonderfully timed act of rebellion the newsroom then served its TVNZ masters with an Official Information Act request for details of the company's involvement in the matter and comment from Flannery and Ellis.
Can I suggest, at this point, things are going just a little pear shaped for TVNZ? Personally, I am relieved to see it. In the 18 months since I left the organisation the place has been extremely quiet and I had begun to wonder if it really was me that had been the sole source of mayhem at TVNZ.
The Veitch affair poses huge commercial and political risks for TVNZ. Veitch was a valuable property for the company - that now appears to be destroyed. The ratings for its flagship 6pm news have been a little stronger this year but it is possible that fall-out from the scandal could lose it some audience and therefore revenue.
The first rule of public relations in a crisis like this is "close the story down".
TVNZ could have ended the saga on Day One by ascertaining Veitch did indeed commit the assault and, damn the Employment Court, instantly dismissing him for bringing the company into disrepute.
Instead, TVNZ has dragged out the mess with a long-winded review that will be further hampered by the ongoing police investigation.
The Government's patience with TVNZ has worn thin. If Ellis and his management team mishandle this one, heads will certainly roll - and it won't just be Tony Veitch's skull that is at risk.
