KEY POINTS:
Two weeks ago, workaholic sports presenter Tony Veitch left the bleak Auckland winter for Fiji and a much-needed break.
In the back of his mind was the approaching Olympic Games - the most coveted yet demanding of assignments for the laddish presenter, whose television persona exudes a fractious energy.
It was time to soak up some sun and recharge the batteries before the 24-hour whirl of Beijing - the sporting extravaganza so important to TVNZ that it dipped into charter funding to secure it.
But as he worked on his tan, back home an episode from his past - one he thought safely buried - was being dug up and dusted off.
It would engulf him when he returned to work on Monday and, by week's end, Veitch's Olympic dream was over. It may be just the beginning of the end for the feisty Veitch, who joined TVNZ in 1998 and seemed a perfect match for its blokish quiz show A Game of Two Halves.
When the allegations broke, Veitch initially tried to ride out the storm. He turned up for his breakfast slot at Radio Sport and that night fronted One News' sports segment. The story was not mentioned in the news bulletin, despite condemnation from Women's Refuge and the Prime Minister's comments that domestic violence was "not okay".
By Tuesday morning, Veitch was in talks with TVNZ and the Radio Network, owner of Radio Sport.
Both organisations were slow to move into damage-control mode, saying they did not comment on the personal lives of staff.
But the momentum of public opinion, the outrage of family violence commentators and the scent of scandal - did TVNZ and the Radio Network really know nothing about allegations on the rumour circuit for a year or more? - doomed any hopes the parties had of getting their announcer out of the news.
At Radio Sport, there was concern about advertisers withdrawing support and sponsors pulling promotions. Veitch stepped aside from both his TVNZ presenting and Radio Sport duties.
When, on Wednesday, Veitch read a prepared statement to media colleagues apologising for lashing out at ex-partner Kristin Dunne-Powell, police interest was raised. By Thursday, an investigation had been launched.
Public expectations that his employers should instantly dismiss Veitch on the basis of his admissions are unrealistic. Under New Zealand employment laws, dismissal is a last resort and must follow a process.
Aside from the employment question, his status as one of the country's busiest after-dinner speakers is in doubt as two top organisations removed his profile from their websites. And the long list of charities for whom Veitch has been a prolific supporter, notably CureKids, may never come knocking at his door again.
The future could hardly look bleaker for Veitch, the son of veteran television producer Graham Veitch, who spent much of his childhood in Australia after his father and mother Sue separated. The rising star must be staggered by the speed of his fall.
Just last year he moved into a $1.8 million villa in Herne Bay with fiancee Zoe Halford. The couple married in February at her parents Paul and Glenys' $2.85 million Arrowtown home. He is still listed as the co-owner of the St Heliers townhouse where the incident occurred.
Veteran broadcaster Paul Holmes was a sympathetic ear but others - even Two Halves stalwart Matthew Ridge - no longer wish to work with him.
At Radio Sport, Brendan Telfer was one of the few to publicly offer any support. "If he had not sincerely showed to me a sense of regret and remorse [on Monday] I probably would have ended my friendship with him."
The temptation for Veitch must be to get back on the plane to Fiji.
But what of Ms Dunne-Powell, so badly affected by the assault that she was forced to quit her job as Vodafone's head of marketing?
She married Morgan Powell in April last year at Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island, but the couple were avoiding media contact this week.
Calls to their rural Franklin property on Thursday evening went straight to answerphone, and within a few hours someone had changed the recorded greeting, removing any reference to Ms Dunne-Powell.
Mr Powell refused to answer questions when contacted yesterday.
Ms Dunne-Powell's father Stephen would not speak to the Weekend Herald after saying: "We're a bit scared by the amount of publicity. We're not prepared to say anything until we're ready."
Motormouth Veitch must wish he had such control.
- Eloise Gibson, David Eames and Patrick Gower
