'Time to go' - doleful Dallow drops job hint

Alison Mau strides to her car yesterday after castigating the Herald on radio for attacking TVNZ and her husband. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Newsreader Simon Dallow appeared ready to call time on his One News career yesterday, saying he was "tired of it all".

The 6pm news anchor was criticising foreign-owned media organisations on Viva FM news yesterday. Profits from publicly owned TVNZ stayed in New Zealand, he said.

Then he declared: "As you can tell, I'm tired of it all. Maybe it's time for me to go."

Dallow did not return calls from the Weekend Herald yesterday, and TVNZ dismissed suggestions he was leaving.

"It was his personal feelings and his personal preferences," said public affairs manager Megan Richards.

"It's a major storm in a teacup."

The "storm" blew up after Dallow criticised news content and the "One News Your News" marketing campaign.

He said on his Thursday morning Viva FM radio show that he would like news on TVNZ and TV3 to be "more news and less fluff in almost every respect".

And though he and co-anchor Wendy Petrie fronted the marketing campaign, it was "not something we drive".

"We have to face and present them, but at the same time I'm not certain either," he said.

It is understood Dallow's thoughts on the marketing campaign are widely echoed within TVNZ.

Many feel the reporters, rather than the presenters, should be promoted, and they are uncomfortable with the advertisements, a source told the Weekend Herald.

"Everyone has been mocking them," the source said.

The adverts feature Dallow and Petrie asking a poll question. The most recent asks: "Auckland bashing: Is it deserved?"

The ads are part of TVNZ's drive to win back viewers, particularly in the 18-to-49 age group, who have been shifting to TV3.

But the head of Christchurch Polytechnic's School of Broadcasting, Paul Norris, said he was not convinced the campaign was effective in drawing in younger viewers, which was where TV3 had been making gains.

"If a presenter is uncomfortable with it ... they will display that discomfort," he said.

Ms Richards said the campaign was "extremely successful", and there was no end in sight.

Dallow has been fronting the news since Judy Bailey left in December.

Mr Norris said the newsreader's comments made his future "a little awkward".

He should be taking his concerns to management rather than "venting them on radio".

Dallow's wife and fellow broadcaster Alison Mau yesterday waded into the row in defence of her husband.

Standing in for Mary Lambie on the Viva FM 9am to noon show, she said the Herald's story yesterday was the "beat-up of the year".

She had a copy of Dallow's radio show transcript, "the very words he used, and they're somewhat different. In fact, I can't find what the Herald said anywhere".

A Herald copy of the transcript shows the words Mau claimed she could not find.

Dallow said: "I consider it a real privilege to be able to present the news, and I'd like it to be more news and less fluff in almost every respect and that's on both channels."

Mau also said she was "left speechless" that One News was criticised, but "not a thing is said about the opposition, the foreign-owned opposition".

Mau and Dallow made their comments on Viva FM - a radio station owned by Australian company APN, which also publishes the Herald.

The Herald approached Mau for comment off air, but she walked quickly away to her car.

Former TVNZ newsreaders Judy Bailey and John Hawkesby were contacted yesterday but did not want to comment on Dallow's situation.