Veitch wants to be a father

Kristin Dunne-Powell leaves court with her husband Morgan Powell yesterday after telling a judge how Tony Veitch's assault has changed her life. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

HIS STORY:

Tony Veitch can't wait to get on with his life, and hopes to be a father soon.

In interviews after yesterday's hearing, the broadcaster said he wanted to be judged by the average New Zealander.

Looking exhausted but slightly defiant, he repeatedly stressed his desire for New Zealanders to know his version of the assault.

He told Newstalk ZB: "The statement of facts says what happened. I think it is up to average Joe Blow New Zealanders to look at what did happen that night and make their own decisions. I've never wanted sympathy.

"I hope average Kiwis will say, 'the bloke made a mistake ... it was inexcusable and maybe one day he'll be given a second chance'."

Before he attempts a second chance at his broadcasting career, he said he wanted to have children.

"The media ... doesn't matter any more. I just want to be happy and have kiddies. I wanna be a Dad.

"I'm tired. I wanna wake up and go and live life again ... and know that it's over. I hope I can get back to doing what I love."

He said in a statement that the months leading up to his court appearance had been a hideous time for his friends and family.

"I say everyone, my family, everybody, you have no idea how relieved I am that this is over.

"I feel like I've let down my wife and family. We have lost our house where we'd planned to have our kiddies and we've had to meet the significant legal costs."

He credited his wife Zoe and his guest spot on Sky TV as the momentum he needed to get on with his life.

"Zoe has been incredible to me. She said to me, 'the Deaker programme, do it'. I didn't want to do it. I had no confidence in the media.

"I did it, and suddenly the brain clicked into gear. This is a diversion for me. I can talk about what I love."

Veitch told TV One's Close Up that under the stress of the public and media scrutiny, suicide seemed a rational choice.

"I'd lost all hope. My rationale was - Tony get yourself out of this situation you'll make it better for others. At the time I was frustrated with myself for not going through with it and doing it properly."

Of former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell, he said he "just wanted her to be happy". But he also said he was "disappointed" in her.

He told Newstalk that the case should have been solved quietly. "It could've been shut down. This didn't need to be played out in public. There have been no winners and we'd dealt with this as far as we were concerned [under a confidentiality deal]."

- Isaac Davison