TVNZ admits senior bosses knew of Veitch assault last year

(L-R) Rick Ellis, Jeff Latch, Anthony Flannery and Peter Parussini. Photos / Kenny Rodger, Herald on Sunday, Supplied

TVNZ is under fire after admitting yesterday four of its most senior managers have known for seven months about an incident involving Tony Veitch and his former partner - but kept quiet.

TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis, who only became aware of the alleged assault when it surfaced in the media last week, was in damage control yesterday, issuing a statement to defend his managers.

The ramifications of the incident - in which Veitch allegedly kicked and broke ex-partner Kristin Dunne-Powell's back in four places in January 2006 - have now extended far beyond the future of the sports newsreader, with one commentator calling for a high-level independent inquiry into TVNZ.

Veitch's radio bosses also admitted yesterday they had known about the incident since October last year.

The companies' statements raise questions about whether the organisations will be able to sack Veitch, because they took no action when he first alerted them to the matter.

Police have launched an investigation into the assault claims, while Herald on Sunday inquiries have uncovered new details about what happened in the two years following the incident.

Sources say Dunne-Powell's lawyers asked for compensation around October 2007, 21 months after the assault took place. Veitch eventually paid her up to $170,000, according to reports last week.

In an exclusive interview with Paul Holmes today, Veitch elaborates on his shame and remorse, the uncertainty of his future, and his state of mind before and after the incident. He also confirms he saw Dunne-Powell several times after the incident.

Police are believed to have spoken to Dunne-Powell on Friday but it is understood she has not laid a formal complaint.

Legal experts told the Herald on Sunday that Veitch's admission earlier in the week that he had "lashed out" was probably sufficient grounds for police to lay charges, with the only real debate being how severe those charges would be.

Ellis confirmed yesterday that four of his senior executives were told last December about an incident.

Former TVNZ head of current affairs Bill Ralston yesterday said it was incomprehensible that the four - head of television Jeff Latch, head of corporate affairs Peter Parussini, head of news and current affairs Anthony Flannery and a senior company lawyer - did not relay this information to Ellis.

"I find it unbelievable that none of these senior managers, all of whom report to Ellis, did not say anything," Ralston said.