Admission TVNZ failed to perform due diligence
Letter reveals broadcaster fell short in hiring of Kamahl Santamaria
TVNZ’S acting chairman admitted in a private letter to then Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi that “recruitment policy was not followed” in the hiring of disgraced Breakfast host Kamahl Santamaria and “thorough reference checks were not undertaken”.
In correspondence obtained by the Weekend Herald via the Official Information Act, TVNZ’S acting chairman Kevin Malloy admits official protocol was not undertaken in Santamaria’s hiring.
Santamaria abruptly disappeared from New Zealand TV screens as new Breakfast host on May 19 — just 32 days after being hired from international news agency Al Jazeera in Qatar.
The veteran broadcaster subsequently resigned on June 28 as allegations emerged that a complaint had been made by a younger female TVNZ staffer of inappropriate behaviour by Santamaria.
The resulting controversy led to TVNZ head of news and current affairs Paul Yurisich going on leave.
TVNZ has never officially admitted the hiring of Santamaria was not conducted according to official TVNZ and Government policy — which the broadcaster is expected to adhere to as a partially state-funded entity.
During the height of the controversy, TVNZ chief executive Simon Power commissioned an independent review on May 30 of the recruitment policies that led to Santamaria taking the coveted Breakfast role.
However, Power has not made any comment to officially acknowledge or confirm the hiring process of Santamaria was lacking.
Several internal TVNZ sources have told the Herald staff were upset they were not consulted about Santamaria replacing previous host John Campbell and that he did not undergo a rigorous hiring process.
But in a letter on May 31, Malloy openly admits to Faafoi that proper hiring processes were not followed — and Faafoi acknowledges this.
“I can confirm that TVNZ has a recruitment policy, and a Code of Conduct which sets out the Company’s expectation of all its people,” Malloy writes to Faafoi.
“The recruitment policy was not followed in that thorough reference checks were not undertaken, although the head of news & current affairs had worked with the candidate previously.
“It is the view of TVNZ that the policy needs further reviewing and strengthening, and an independent review of the process undertaken. To that end, we have engaged independent employment lawyer Margaret Robins to undertake a review of relevant TVNZ policies, processes and practices.”
Malloy’s May 31 letter was in response to a May 30 letter from Faafoi asking for assurance that “robust policies and procedures” had been undertaken in Santamaria’s hiring.
Santamaria has not been seen publicly since the controversy erupted in mid-may but in a statement to Stuff said he was unable to comment about allegations of inappropriate behaviour at TVNZ.
TVNZ has been approached for comment.