TVNZ's political editor suspended from Parliament

TVNZ’s political editor has been suspended from Parliament for five days over attempts to interview National MP Stuart Smith on the day Christopher Luxon survived a confidence vote in his leadership.

Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee has ruled Maiki Sherman may not enter the precinct from tomorrow until May 6 after considering a complaint from the National Party.

As Speaker, Brownlee has the authority to grant and revoke press gallery accreditation for reporters.

Last week senior National MP Simeon Brown claimed TVNZ staff had followed Smith, who is National’s chief whip, into a Parliament corridor and "aggressively banged on his door for several minutes".

Brown also alleged on social media that TVNZ staff had "pressured him about how he would be portrayed on Breakfast the following morning if he did not come out to talk to TVNZ".

Brownlee said this afternoon when he announced the ban on Sherman: "I have been aware that the TVNZ political editor engaged in attempts to secure an interview that went beyond the prescription and spirit of the rules that had previously been agreed by the press gallery and Parliament.

"I've therefore determined that a five-day suspension from 1 to 6 May is the most appropriate course of action.

"Ms Sherman, the TVNZ political editor, has informed me that it was not her intention to go beyond the rules, but accepts that she did, and has accepted also the decision on this matter."

Brownlee said other media outlets also breached rules on the same day but he could not identify the individuals responsible.

Simeon Brown had said he believed the actions breached parliamentary rules by following Smith into a corridor area, “an area where media interviews are not allowed without express permission”.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said that day the broadcaster had "a different view of what took place".

"Our journalist was asking questions on behalf of the public, as they do every day," she said.

"This story came to light due to leaking from National Party MPs. It was a legitimate story to follow. We look forward to Stuart Smith making himself available to explain his absence from caucus.”

Smith has featured in media reports about Luxon’s leadership, included claims the Prime Minister had ghosted Smith’s attempts to contact him before Easter over concerns about flagging support in caucus.

It took Smith four days to deny the reports until Tuesday last week – the day Luxon had survived the caucus confidence vote.

Smith had told a media organisation the previous evening that weather could delay his arrival in Wellington for the caucus meeting.

However on Tuesday morning Smith released a statement through the Prime Minister's office citing a "long-standing personal appointment" as the reason for his caucus absence.

Later that day Smith appeared in Parliament and TVNZ later sought to speak to him, triggering the National Party’s complaint to both the broadcaster and Parliament’s Speaker.

Banning press gallery staff is a rare punishment meted out by the Speaker.

In June 2010, then Speaker Lockwood Smith suspended 22 Parliament car-parking permits held by TVNZ and TV3 after their crews pursued former MP Chris Carter down stairwells in the complex and filmed in his secretary's office in his absence.

The following year the NZ Herald’s political staff were handed a 10-day suspension for publishing a photograph on its website of guards and members of the public restraining a man who was trying to jump from the public gallery into the debating chamber.

In August 2006 TV3 was temporarily banned from filming within the House after it aired footage of NZ First MP Ron Mark giving a one-fingered salute to a National MP.

Earlier this week it was reported that Sherman was involved in an incident on May 13 last year at a function hosted by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

The claims were first circulated publicly by a blogger claiming a homophobic slur was used by Sherman at the pre-Budget event.

Willis said a journalist involved had used "a slur" amid a "dispute" with another journalist, reported to be Stuff reporter Lloyd Burr.

“I was out of the room for a few minutes and returned to hear offensive language being used. I ended the event at that point," Willis said.

"The following day, I checked in on the welfare of the reporter at whom the language was directed. He advised me he did not want to take the matter any further.

"I respected his decision."

A TVNZ spokesperson, in response to questions over the alleged incident, said it "does not comment on employment matters".