Plunket leaves 'Morning Report'

Sean Plunket. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Sean Plunket resigned yesterday after details were leaked of a private deal which would allow him to write a column for Metro.

The Herald sought comment from Plunket on Monday on a deal which gave Radio New Zealand chief executive Peter Cavanagh the right to see his columns before they went to Metro.

Both Plunket and Metro say that he did not have a veto on content.

The deal, which specifies he cannot write a political column, is a victory for RNZ.

Cavanagh has fiercely resisted the Metro column, arguing that it could undermine Morning Report's reputation for news, not comment.

After almost 14 years of hosting Morning Report Plunket said he was "not a morning person".

Plunket said his reason for resigning was "not particularly to do with past conflicts [with Peter Cavanagh]".

Plunket has had issues with RNZ CEO Peter Cavanagh in the past after he banned Plunket from hosting two televised debates on TVNZ.

Plunket and Cavanagh fought through the Employment Relations Authority in 2009 over the Metro column, which resulted in the Authority ruling in Cavanagh's favour.

Despite this ruling Plunket confirmed to the Herald over the weekend that he and RNZ had reached an agreement and his first column would be in next month's Metro magazine.

Plunket said he did not know if only writing a column for Metro magazine would pay the mortgage and he was looking for an extra job that would be "exciting and interesting".

He said he was "very proud to have been part of the Morning Report team for so long".

Cavanagh said, "Sean has made it clear for some time now that he was looking for opportunities outside Radio New Zealand" and he would certainly leave some big shoes to fill. "I'm sure there will be a lot of interest in the role," he said.

Jim Tully, head of the School of Political Science and Communication at the University of Canterbury, said he was surprised at the resignation as he thought issues had been resolved.

Tully said the show would benefit from a fresh presenter but the replacement of co-presenter Geoff Robinson would be better.

"A gender mix would be good. It's needs a sharper edge then Geoff Robinson. Needs to be more like a terrier, like Plunket, tenacious and not be fobbed off easily."

Tully suggested Todd Niall as an appropriate replacement for Plunket. Robinson and Niall, who are both employed at Radio New Zealand, refused to comment.

Plunket's departure leaves a major gap in Morning Report, with co-host Geoff Robinson due to step down in the next two years.