TVNZ has decided not to appeal an arbitration decision awarding the former news-reader John Hawkesby $6.537 million in
compensation for unfair dismissal.
See… TVNZ DECIDES NOT TO APPEAL THE HAWKESBY ARBITRATION PAYOUT (http://www.scoop.co.nz/frames/stories/BU0003/S00058.htm) for the statement issued moments ago by the state
broadcaster.
The controversial decision has been taken by the newly appointed TVNZ chairman Ross Armstrong, who says that after
taking legal advice there appears to be little chance that an appeal will reduce the ammount to be paid to Hawkesby.
Hawkesby who previously worked for TV3 as a news-reader, before starting at TVNZ on a salary of $750,000 per annum, has
in the end received $6.537 million for reading the news 24 times. This works out at $272,375 per one hour news bulletin.