By JAMES GARDINER
Television New Zealand managers are under attack from staff for failing to take action against Paul Holmes following his "darkie" comments on radio this week.
An internal complaint was laid yesterday by an Auckland staff member, who has accused TVNZ of breaching its own rules of providing a discrimination-free workplace.
A meeting of Holmes programme staff planned for today has been cancelled amid growing discontent among staff at TVNZ.
Journalists in particular are furious about Holmes' racist comments on Newstalk ZB about United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a reference to Hitler and sexist comments about women in journalism.
TVNZ chairman Craig Boyle said the comments were "of great concern," but said it was a matter for management to deal with.
The comments have spread across the globe.
Mr Annan has read the reports, but at UN headquarters in New York, deputy spokeswoman Hua Jiang responded: "It's not worthy of comment."
Although the comments were made on Holmes' Newstalk ZB radio programme, the TVNZ staff believe their employer should have acted more quickly to distance the company from them.
Twelve Holmes staff from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch were to meet at a West Auckland lodge all day today, with presenter Susan Wood, news and current affairs head Bill Ralston, his new deputy, Stephen Rowe, One News head Melanie Jones and Holmes.
But the "hui" was called off yesterday shortly after one of the Holmes producers and the only Polynesian remaining on the staff, Paul Yandall, quit over Holmes' comments.
Other editorial staff are also believed to be unhappy.
TVNZ spokeswoman Di Schnauer said she was not aware of any staff wanting to leave.
* Email James Gardiner
TV staff angry at no action against Holmes
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