TVNZ has confirmed it's axing long-running current affairs show Fair Go and its Midday and Tonight news bulletins — as a union confirms it will take legal action over the changes.
The Fair Go brand is set to live on, however, with a new team proposed within the news and current affairs division. This would consist of four new roles and have a focus on long-form consumer and current affairs for digital platforms.
The fate of Sunday, also proposed for cancellation, will be announced tomorrow.
TVNZ chief executive Jodi O’Donnell said all feedback to the proposed changes had been considered.
"In response to current market conditions and business realities facing TVNZ, we do need to move forward with this difficult but necessary proposal," she said.
"I want to acknowledge again the significant value and contribution that these shows have made over many years.
"While these decisions are incredibly difficult, we must bring our costs more in line with our revenue and get our business in shape for a digital-first world.
"However, we’ve listened to our people and we’re pleased to propose a new team to take the lead on long-form consumer and current affairs reporting for TVNZ’s current and future digital products."
Late this afternoon, union E tū confirmed it would challenge the broadcaster's plans with legal action.
The Fair Go brand continues with a new team within News and Current Affairs proposed, with four new roles and a focus on long-form consumer and current affairs for digital platforms. (Source: 1News)
Under the original proposals, up to 68 roles were under threat, with changes also proposed for youth-focused Re: News, the video editing team, and operations.
The axed shows were set to end in mid-May.
Union says legal action will follow
E tū negotiation specialist Michael Wood told 1News the union would proceed with legal action.
He told 1News: "We've been very clear throughout this process that we don't believe TVNZ has followed its own collective agreement with staff and its requirements to properly involve staff in the process.
"The detailed arguments will have to be hashed out by legal counsel in the appropriate forum but we believe that this is a really important issue."
Wood added: "We are noting a positive within [today's] announcement that there is some capacity being retained and the Fair Go being retained, and that’s a positive outcome of the SOS Save Our Stories campaign and public support.
"But there is still a significant loss of news and current affairs capacity here and, as such, a loss of ability to tell New Zealanders stories."
"So we will continue to be press that issue through the Save Our Stories campaign — and through legal proceedings.
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