TVNZ to Veitch: Everything 'would be okay'

Tony Veitch. Photo / Doug Sherring

Tony Veitch told his TVNZ bosses of an incident involving Kristin Dunne-Powell six months before it was made public and was reassured that everything "would be okay".

The state broadcaster also offered to compile a list of the country's top lawyers for Veitch, after telling him it was not an employment issue.

TVNZ's board says it stands by the way its managers handled the situation.

A 358-page file on the Veitch saga has been released by police under the Official Information Act and includes details of the TVNZ meeting in December 2007, six months before assault allegations were made public.

In the meeting, Veitch - described by one manager in his police statement as an "absolutely abject emotional mess" - told managers that a journalist was "aware of the allegations and would go to the media".

Head of television Jeff Latch, news and current affairs boss Anthony Flannery, head of corporate affairs Peter Parussini and a lawyer were present when a tearful and "remorseful" Veitch gave his version of events of what happened on Sunday, January 29, 2006.

One of the managers said in his statement to detectives: "He was very upset when he was talking about it. Very agitated."

Another said: "He said she wasn't admitted to hospital, just A&E. I remember clearly it was one kick only. I don't recall Tony saying anything more than she was bruised."

Veitch told the managers an argument broke out and when he went to leave his St Heliers house, Dunne-Powell wrapped her arms around his feet.

However an early police summary of facts - not the one that was ultimately presented in court - said Dunne-Powell was gathering her belongings to leave when Veitch cornered her against a bedroom wall and as she slid down the wall to get away, he kicked her two or three times in the right side of her lower back. She then collapsed on the floor screaming.

In a later caption summary, which Veitch pleaded guilty to in Auckland District Court last month, these allegations were omitted.

It reads: "During the evening the pair talked about their relationship in the bedroom. A heated argument ensued, in the course of which the defendant kicked the complainant in the back while she was on the floor."

Veitch told managers that he kicked her only once in the back and took her to Auckland Hospital with bruises, where he waited until she was discharged.

According to police documentation, Dunne-Powell received a haematoma, sprain to the sacroiliac ligament and two fractures to her spine.

Veitch left the emergency department at 6am to do his Radio Sport breakfast show. He returned later and took Dunne-Powell home.

Veitch said Dunne-Powell needed treatment and physiotherapy and he had covered the cost of that.

"Someone in the [TVNZ] meeting made comment that it was akin to extortion and I made comment in reference to that the costs should be covered by ACC, including time off work," one manager told detectives.

Managers told Veitch it was not their concern: "It was not an employment matter for us." They then agreed to help Veitch by supplying him with names of top lawyers.

"He didn't think his lawyer was up to dealing with it, and apparently his lawyer agreed so we made some recommendations of senior practitioners," a manager told police.

"[Name blanked] was going to go on, I think, and made some phone calls. We were trying to calm him down and reassure him that things would be okay."

Yesterday, Latch said he would not comment on the meeting.

Neither Flannery nor TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis, who has said he knew nothing about the allegations or the meeting until the incident was revealed publicly, would return calls. Parussini is overseas.

Board member Bryan Gould said: "The board was fully briefed and you can take it [it] was supportive of management."

Last Wednesday, Veitch and his lawyers won a court injunction banning further publication of information from the 358-page police file - on Friday evening, he gave up his fight.

Last month, Veitch pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court to a charge of causing injury with reckless disregard. Police dropped six other assault charges.

He was fined $10,000, given 300 hours' community service and faces supervision for nine months.

'NICE LOVING GUY'S' VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP

Friends and family paint a picture of a volatile relationship between Tony Veitch and Kristin Dunne-Powell.

The pair met at a TVNZ Christmas party about 2002, and continued with an on-again, off-again relationship until 2006.

In police witness statements newly-released, Dunne-Powell's family members admit wishing the unstable relationship to be finished. Others recall conversations with Dunne-Powell about physical violence.

"In regards to the violence that Kristin was telling me about I remember at the time thinking this is extreme, it wasn't just a slap or a back hander it was way more extreme than that," said one

Friends described Veitch as an "energiser bunny" who was "always talking" and "holding the floor".

One told police: Tony seemed like "a nice guy, good guy."

A former girlfriend of Veitch told police there had never been any abuse when she went out with him.

"Throughout my relationship with Tony, it was always a loving, caring, passionate and a fun relationship."

Dunne-Powell's friends claimed she was "desperately in love with him" and "he blamed his childhood and his parents' relationship and always said that he wasn't good at relationships and commitment".

Veitch's lawyer Stuart Grieve has said the police file should never have been made public.

"The material disclosed to the media contains allegations which have never been tested and which would have been the subject of serious challenge had the matter proceeded to a defended hearing. It is not evidence and should not and cannot be taken as representing a true account of what occurred."

He said Veitch felt "let down" by the system. It is understood Veitch has laid a complaint with the PCA.