The winner of best presenter at last year's New Zealand Television Awards has been removed from his Maori TV show after being told he had reached his "peak".
Matai Smith was named best presenter in the entertainment/factual category last November for his turn on the show Homai Te Pakipaki.
However, the Herald understands Smith, 35, was told after the award ceremony that he had reached his peak and that others would be hosting it.
The station said that after three years of presenting he had peaked on that particular show.
Smith would not comment but is understood to be unhappy at not being able to have an input into the decision.