Noelle McCarthy coming back to RNZ

Noelle McCarthy. Photo Natalie Slade

Radio New Zealand has rehired Noelle McCarthy for its summer coverage and a job presenting and producing in its Auckland studios.

She has popped back from Cork to return to NZ.

McCarthy left in June 2011, returning to her home town of Cork in Ireland, where she handled public relations before moving on.

Her current role is listed as a freelance feature writer for the Irish Examiner.

The term has not been specific and a staff source said that the job had not been advertised. McCarthy was a favourite with Radio New Zealand bosses who liked her Irish brogue. In 2008 she was at the centre of a storm over plagiarism over some of her on air activities.

RNZ network manager John Howson told staff in a memo McCarthy "has decided that the lure of a New Zealand summer is just irresistible and she'll be returning in November."

Her first role will be to re-visit the challenges of Summer Noelle from 9-midday during the summer schedule.

"Then she'll take up a similar role to the one she filled prior to her departure last year - back-filling as a floating day-part producer and presenter in Auckland," Howson said.