Paul Ellis, who plays Fergus Kearney on TV2's Shortland Street, says he decided to leave the show a year ago.
He was named in the Weekend Herald as one of the actors dumped from the show. "It's nothing to do with the situation [at Shortland Street]," he said.
"I'm heading overseas for a bit of travel and to see what my options are."
Mr Ellis has played Fergus, owner of the Buzz Bar, for five years.
In a major revamp of the top-rating soap, five actors have been dumped with another nine tipped to go.
Those leaving include Shortland St clinic receptionists Moira Cochrane and Minnie Crozier (Geraldine Brophy and Katrina Devine), Dean Cochrane (Greg Johnson), Tamsin Yates (Jay Saussey), Al Dubrovsky (Malcolm Murray) and Ange Weaver (Katherine Hubbard).
Shortland Street star off on OE
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