Woman in Fox dispute named

The woman whose complaint of harassment sparked the resignation of Maori Television Service boss Derek Fox is understood to be head of programming Joanna Paul.

MTS chairman Wayne Walden said last week that its chief executive officer resigned part-way through an investigation "regarding a human resources issue between Mr Fox and the Maori Television Service".

Those inquiries had now been called off but speculation has increased about the incident.

Yesterday in Parliament, Act MP Deborah Coddington questioned whether the taxpayer-funded MTS had acted appropriately after a complaint that "Derek Fox sexually harassed a female staff member".

Sources have told the Herald that the staff member is Ms Paul, a former MTS board member.

Ms Paul, who became a media personality co-hosting the off-beat news show Nightline and presenting 60 Minutes, was at work at MTS yesterday but would not return calls.

She has been a consultant, independent producer and took board directorships with Maori funding agency Te Mangai Paho and MTS.

A spokeswoman for MTS said the service would not confirm the complainant's name "at any stage".

"It was never relevant and it's about privacy," she said.

In Parliament, Ms Coddington said MTS had a responsibility as a good employer to complete an inquiry if a complaint against Mr Fox was lodged by a female staff member.

She said it could not be discounted that the staff member had been pressed to drop accusations against Mr Fox because of a concern about the public image of the troubled service.

Mr Fox said he was going because of the pressures the public scrutiny of MTS had placed on his family.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen told Parliament yesterday that the internal investigation was a matter for the MTS board, but hinted the issue might have been serious.

"Of course, if further complaints are to be made then that could well be a police matter," he said.

Mr Fox did not return calls from the Herald yesterday, and his lawyer, Philip Skelton, said he could not comment.

Mr Walden and MTS acting chief executive Ani Waaka also did not return calls.

However, the MTS spokeswoman said the woman who had complained was entirely satisfied with the way the issue had been handled.

"For her it's at an end."

She said that included the decision of Mr Fox to resign part-way through an internal inquiry.

Mr Fox said in his resignation letter to MTS that he was stepping aside for family and personal reasons.

He said criticisms of the service had been personal and often unwarranted.

"I have recently discovered from the principal of one of my daughters' school that my daughter, too, has been affected."