Broadcaster Tony Veitch to return to radio

Tony Veitch is being rehired as a sports-news presenter and journalist for Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport from early January. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Former Radio Sport presenter Tony Veitch is being hired by one of his former employers, The Radio Network (TRN), in the role of sports-news bulletin presenter and journalist for Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport from early January.

Veitch was suspended and then resigned as Radio Sport breakfast host on July 17, 2008, following a domestic dispute.

Veitch was sentenced to 300 hours' community service and fined $10,000 at Auckland District Court after pleading guilty to reckless disregard causing injury.

He admitted kicking former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell in the back, fracturing her spine.

Veitch says he is "incredibly grateful" to TRN "for giving me this opportunity to get back to doing what I love and the only career I've ever known."

Veitch says while many things have changed over the past 18 months "my passion for sport remains the same. I've missed it desperately and I now look forward to once again utilising my skills as a journalist and a broadcaster."

TRN says hiring Veitch as a contractor will give him the chance to prove himself again.

General Manager of Talk Programming Bill Francis says the company did not make the decision to rehire Veitch lightly.

He says the opinion of the public and a number of people in the sports world were sought and they all thought Veitch should be back on radio.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD STAFF