Campbell’s parents still feel ‘deeply proud’

The parents of TV3 journalist John Campbell were ‘‘broken up’’ by the axing of his current affairs show, but say he is leaving on good terms.

Jim and Wendy Campbell insisted their son was not going to leave New Zealand, but was going to take a month off to read books and watch the Hurricanes.

They were sad but philosophical the morning after TV3 owner Mediaworks announced the Campbell Live presenter would leave the channel, after declining a co- hosting role on the show slated to replace the nightly current affairs programme he led for 10 years.

‘‘It was really amicable terms, there was only goodwill,’’ said Jim, outside the couple’s Featherston home.

He said Campbell and his colleagues were upset about his departure from the channel, where he had spent a total of 24 years after starting in his early 20s as a cadet under Bill Ralston.

‘‘He’s quite upset by the turn of events, not because of any illfeeling toward TV3 but just that, after 24 years it’s hard to move on ... I was broken up, seeing that.’’

Jim felt there was still an appetite for his son’s trademark, crusading TV journalism, focused on the have-nots and holding the powerful to account, and was sceptical about the ratings system used to justify the axing.

‘‘Do you know anyone who’s got a set-top box? ... The sample is so tiny, how can they account for the sort of multifarious nature of the New Zealand viewing public?’’

He thought his son would find a way to continue advocating for those without a voice.

‘‘After 10 years you can see he’s utterly sincere and the real John Campbell is that type of person, and we’re deeply, deeply proud of him. And we know he’ll go on to do good work, because that’s the way he is.’’

Despite speculation he could look abroad to the likes of Australia’s ABC or the BBC, Jim Campbell said his son would be staying in New Zealand.

The couple, who are retired restaurateurs, thought their son might be open to an online, nonmainstream format to continue making Campbell Live. But he had not given any concrete indication of what his plans were, beyond about a month’s well-earned holiday to spend time with his parents, wife, daughter and son, and catch up on a couple of neglected interests, Jim Campbell said.

‘‘We’ll be able to see more of him, it’s always been hard to fit that in but we’re very, very close,’’ Jim said.

The pair were moved by the outpouring of support on social media after Thursday’s announcement the show would be cut.

‘‘I think that John would want to express his deepest appreciation for all the people who’ve shown support since the start of the [ Campbell Live] review – which has been extraordinary.’’