Radio NZ: Employment fight cost more than $1.5m

Lynne Snowdon. File photo / Mark Mitchell

Radio New Zealand estimates it may have spent more than $1.5 million defending Employment Court action brought by Lynne Snowdon.

In a long-running and highly publicised dispute, Snowdon brought three sets of proceedings against the state broadcaster, who formerly employed her as managing editor.

Snowdon's action included grievance claims against RNZ, a claim her 2005 dismissal from the broadcaster was unjustified and proceedings that attempted to get earlier judgements of the Employment Court set aside on the grounds senior RNZ officials had committed serious fraud.

The three sets of claims were all dismissed by Judge Tony Ford yesterday.

"Having been completely successful in defending all three sets of proceedings, RNZ is entitled to costs,'' the judge said.

A spokesman for the broadcaster said this afternoon that its costs were still being calculated but RNZ estimated these could exceed $1.5 million.

"It is important to note thaat Radio New Zealand did not initiate this court action and has always been open to a settlement on reasonable terms,'' the spokesman said.

Snowdon's husband said last year that the former RNZ employee and her family had incurred costs of $3.5 million in the case, according to Judge Ford's decision.