Govt now waiting on end of TVNZ employment talks with Veitch

Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard says he is now waiting for the end of TVNZ's employment talks with television presenter Tony Veitch before making any substantive comment on the issue.

Yesterday Mr Mallard was frustrated at the lack of information from the state broadcaster, especially in regard to what happened when Veitch originally told his bosses about his domestic violence incident.

Mr Mallard said he had received more information since then.

"I have had a quick update in response to my questions and will get a full report after the employment process concludes," Mr Mallard said.

"Until then no substantive comment will be made."

Mr Mallard said the update was essentially what TVNZ Chairman Sir John Anderson told the media last evening.

Sir John said then he was standing by key staff involved in the state broadcaster's handling of the Veitch saga.

Sir John said only a police investigation, which is now under way, will get to the bottom of events around the sports presenter's 2006 alleged assault on his former partner Kristin Dunne Powell.

TVNZ has been under intense political pressure to answer questions about how it initially handled information after it said at the weekend four senior managers were told by Veitch of an "incident" but did not take any action.

Veitch has been sidelined from his jobs at TVNZ and Radio Sport, which has also said it knew of an incident, after last week admitting "lashing out" at his former partner.

Ms Dunne-Powell reportedly needed hospital treatment and was confined to a wheelchair for some time after the attack.

Mr Mallard yesterday received a preliminary report from Sir John on "who knew what, and when and who did they tell" but said it was inadequate -- forcing him to request further information.

After that Sir John told the news media that an "agitated" Veitch had told the broadcaster's managers only that there had been a "minor fracas" and from what he could tell there had been no mention of a physical assault.

He said Veitch was a total embarrassment to a company that did not condone violence.

However, he said he retained complete confidence in the four managers who had decided the incident should remain a private matter and chief executive Rick Ellis, who was never informed of the meeting with Veitch.

He said all had acted with "total integrity".

Sir John revealed that after Veitch paid his former partner over $150,000 he informed TVNZ's head of news and current affairs, Anthony Flannery, about the deal and the amount.

He said that given the amount of money that should have spurred more questions.

But ultimately the allegations around Veitch were now in police hands, he said.

"The accountability of this is actually in police or judicial hands. It is not in TVNZ's hands.

"The only matter we have to deal with now is the employment matter of Mr Veitch. We're working at all speed on this."