Radio NZ wins long-running employment fight

Lynne Snowdon. File photo / Mark Mitchell

The country's longest-running employment case has been won by Radio New Zealand, the broadcaster is reporting.

The Employment Court hearing lasted 47 sitting days and was brought against the public broadcaster by its former managing editor Lynne Snowdon.

Ms Snowdon accused Radio New Zealand (RNZ) of unjustifiably dismissing her and of fraud.

Judge Anthony Ford dismissed her three claims that she was disadvantaged, that she was unjustifiably dismissed and that Radio New Zealand had committed serious fraud, RNZ reported today.

The case began in late 2002.

Former Radio New Zealand (RNZ) managing editor Lynne Snowdon was sacked in April 2005 after spending almost two years on sick leave and full pay of about $120,000.

She lodged a personal grievance case for unjustified dismissal after she was fired.

She had fallen out with former chief executive Sharon Crosbie over allegations of financial mismanagement.

In 2010 she lost an appeal claiming that RNZ had provided altered or false documents in its case against her, and that some documents had been deleted or destroyed.

RNZ denied the allegations and Justice Young in the Court of Appeal said the allegations of fraudulent discovery were "a subset of the broader complaints'' against the broadcaster.

- additional reporting by NZPA