Time's up for TV3 journalists

Amanda Millar. File Photo / Supplied

TV3 has quietly laid off some of New Zealand's most distinguished investigative journalists - including the long-serving Amanda Millar - and shut down the Wellington office of 60 Minutes.

Millar is one of two award-winning senior reporters who have lost their jobs.

Millar and former Herald reporter Alison Horwood declined to relocate to Auckland and have accepted redundancy. Other staff are discussing relocation or redundancy.

Mark Jennings, the cash-strapped broadcaster's news boss, wouldn't rule out further job cuts. Jennings said it was "ridiculous" to suggest that the women had lost their jobs because of their ages.

"Current affairs television is expensive, investigative journalism like 60 Minutes is not cheap," he said. "With the cost pressures that are on us it made good financial sense to bring the production back to Auckland. Jobs were offered but only two took up the offer to move north."

Jeff Latch, head of TV One and TV2, said TVNZ had not decided when Sunday would return next year.