Media Insider: Whananaki store assault - 36-year-old man arrested over attack on former media executive Dallas Gurney

A 36-year-old Northland man has been arrested following the assault of Whananaki store owner and former media executive Dallas Gurney.

Whangārei-Kaipara Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom, said the Whangārei man would appear in court next week, charged with causing injuries with intent to injure.

“No one should have to experience aggression or violence in their place of work, and there is no place for this in our community,” she said.

“The man charged will now be held to account through the court process.”

The man is expected in the Whangārei District Court on Monday.

CCTV footage shows Gurney being shoved off the store’s deck, as he approached a group of loud patrons, asking them to tone and quieten down bad language.

After he was told to “f-off”, Gurney asked the patrons to leave, before he was attacked.

The footage shows him falling onto concrete, suffering injuries including a fractured shoulder.

Gurney, a former high-flying media executive who has run the Newstalk ZB and Today FM radio stations, has worked with some of New Zealand’s top radio personalities including Sir Paul Holmes, Mike Hosking, Kerre Woodham and Tova O’Brien.

Dallas and Donna Gurney left Auckland for Whananaki more than two years ago.

Two years ago, he and his wife Donna left senior media industry roles in Auckland for a new life in Northland, literally setting up shop in the small coastal village of Whananaki. In late August last year, they set up a community radio station.

Gurney earlier this week wrote on his Whananaki blog that the assault came completely out of the blue.

“They were part of a wider group, these two scumbags, including their own kids which was pretty sad.

“They were very, very drunk, which I didn’t realise straight away. They were swearing at loud volumes and causing a scene. F’ing this. F’ing that. F’ing you and F’ing me.”

He said he didn’t see the assault coming. “No chance to protect myself. It all happened so fast.”

He said the shove sent him a couple of metres into the air before landing on the ground below.

“After that, they took their food and headed off laughing at what they’d done to me.”

Police said the assault was reported just after 8pm on Sunday.

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.