Radio Hauraki hosts reprimanded for on-air stunt

Radio Hauraki hosts Matt Heath and Jeremy Wells have been reprimanded for an on-air stunt. Photo / NZME

Radio Hauraki hosts Matt Heath and Jeremy Wells have been reprimanded for an on-air stunt when they aired an interview with the mother of England cricketer Ben Stokes despite assuring her it was off air.

Deborah Stokes called Radio Hauraki to complain about comments made about Ben, who was hit for four consecutive sixes by West Indies batsman Carlos Brathwaite in the final over of the World T20 cricket final on Monday morning.

Stokes, who was born in New Zealand, became the brunt of some jibes because of comments he made ahead of the final in which he said he enjoyed "the big moments in games".

Mrs Stokes asked to speak to someone off air at Radio Hauraki and, after being assured by Heath she was, said she was "brassed off" about the attacks on him.

NZME group progamme director Mike McClung said Heath and Wells had been rebuked.

"Matt and Jeremy are famous for identifying where the line is and then ignoring it, however putting Ben's mum to air without her knowledge, albeit defending her son, was obviously well over that line," McClung said in a statement.

"They've been suitably reprimanded, and are off-air tomorrow."

Heath and Wells are flying to Las Vegas tomorrow for a work-related project.

NZME is also the publisher of the Herald.