Radio host expects to lose his job today

Pacific radio host Efeso Collins has been summoned to a showdown meeting with his boss today over his on-air criticism of a Budget grant to a little-known Pacific company.

Mr Collins slammed the $4 million allocation to Pacific Economic Development Agency Ltd (Peda) on his Saturday morning talk show Talanoa Pacific on Radio 531pi as a case of "backroom politics and money for the boys".

He was stood down after a complaint by the station's senior announcer Mary Pahi, whose blog supporting the Peda deal also came under attack in Mr Collins' on-air comments.

After a three-week investigation by station management, he has been asked to attend a final meeting today with Tom Etuata, chief executive of the Pacific Media Network, which includes 531pi.

"A decision has been made. I think this will be the end of it," Mr Collins said. "He wants to go over it with their lawyer. I'm feeling 90 per cent half-way out the door."

Despite declaring last month that he was "not prepared to walk away" from the issue, he said yesterday that he would probably not challenge the decision.

"I was only on air for three months, it's not like it's my life," he said. He is a youth mentor and consultant and said he did the Saturday morning show "for love really - for a $20 petrol voucher".

"Even if they did decide in my favour, I don't think this is the kind of environment I want to work in. If I'm going to be constantly challenging things there's no point, this whole thing will be happening again in a month's time."

Meanwhile Peda's sole owner, JR Pereira, said he was still negotiating with the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs over a purchase agreement for the upskilling services for Pacific people proposed in Peda's submission to the Government.

"We're still keeping our fingers crossed," he said.

Former diplomat Neil Walter has completed a draft report for the ministry on how a briefing paper warning of the risks in the Peda deal was leaked to Radio NZ.