TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman allegedly used a homophobic slur in an incident involving Lloyd Burr in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office

An alleged homophobic comment at a late-night, pre-Budget drinks event in May last year has placed renewed scrutiny on TVNZ’s political editor. Politicians have also today reacted to the revelations.

TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman allegedly labelled another well-known broadcaster a “fa***t” in a comment that led to the shutdown of a drinks event in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office.

The alleged incident – involving Sherman and former TV3 host and now Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr – happened late in the evening on May 13 last year during a pre-Budget drinks event.

Willis was present at the event.

“I can confirm I hosted a function for press gallery journalists in my office ahead of last year’s Budget,” Willis said in a statement to Media Insider today.

“I was out of the room for a few minutes and returned to hear offensive language being used. I ended the event at that point.

“The following day, I checked in on the welfare of the reporter at whom the language was directed. He advised me he did not want to take the matter any further. I respected his decision.”

The alleged incident – which has been subject to rumours and media inquiries in recent months – was reported publicly today by political commentator and women’s rights advocate Ani O’Brien on her Substack page.

It is understood NZME’s Newstalk ZB has also been investigating the alleged incident for a news report.

O’Brien said there were reports that Sherman had made the comment in response to a comment allegedly made by Burr, but this has been firmly denied by both him and his employer, Stuff.

Burr said today he would provide a statement, but “I can tell you right now that I never used a ... slur to Maiki or anyone”.

Stuff said in a statement: “Stuff Group stands by, and has complete faith in, Lloyd Burr’s account of the events and his conduct in Minister Willis’ office last May. We will continue to respect his wishes not to comment further on what occurred that night.”

It is understood that Sherman was also left in tears following the incident, one source told Media Insider today.

O’Brien said that “the precise factual dispute over what prompted the exchange remains unresolved”.

But she said attendees were drinking, and she claimed that the word “fa***t” had been used in a professional setting.

The Herald has chosen to redact the slur.

Sherman has not returned a call or Media Insider messages today.

Media Insider asked TVNZ a range of questions, including whether O’Brien’s report was accurate, and:

TVNZ refused to comment today.

“We do not comment on employment matters,” a spokeswoman said today.

Political reaction

Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith – a shareholding minister of TVNZ, along with Willis – told reporters at Parliament that he was not directly involved in the matter.

“Some allegations have been raised, and they should be looked at,” Goldsmith said.

He indicated he would not be speaking to Willis about the matter. “I mean, I think that’s something that’s been raised, and that’s something for TVNZ.”

Willis, when asked what should happen next, told reporters: “That’s not a matter for me.” She said it was a matter for TVNZ.

Deputy Prime Minister and Act leader David Seymour raised the matter with reporters directly today.

He took aim at the media, saying it had taken a blogger to break the story. It was a “disgraceful double standard” that the media hadn’t reported the incident earlier themselves.

“It’s clearly a breach of the standards of Parliament. But the issue is not that it happened. The issue is that there’s been a conspiracy of silence around it for such a long period of time,” Seymour said.

“I think we should all just be glad that one woman with a Substack actually made it a story, because we all know that in the same circumstances, a member of Parliament would have got wall-to-wall coverage night after night after night, don’t we?”

Stuart Smith incident

The revelations come after an incident involving Sherman and another TVNZ staff member last week, which is now the subject of a National Party complaint to the state broadcaster.

National claims that the TVNZ staff breached parliamentary rules as they sought comment from party whip Stuart Smith late one evening last week.

Senior National MP Simeon Brown said TVNZ staff followed Smith into a corridor area this week, “an area where media interviews are not allowed without express permission”.

Brown wrote on X that TVNZ staff “aggressively banged on [Smith’s] door for several minutes, refusing to accept Mr Smith declining to add further to a statement he had already made”.

Brown further alleged that TVNZ staff “pressured him [Smith] about how he would be portrayed on Breakfast the following morning if he did not come out to talk to TVNZ”

TVNZ said it had a different view on that version of events.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said last week: “Our journalist was asking questions on behalf of the public, as they do every day.

“This story came to light due to leaking from National Party MPs. It was a legitimate story to follow. We look forward to Stuart Smith making himself available to explain his absence from caucus.”

She said TVNZ had “a different view of what took place”.

“Irrespective, the correct place for complaints to be raised is with the Speaker of the House, who has authority over these matters, not with TVNZ or on social media. Simeon Brown is well aware of this.”

Brown said the behaviour of TVNZ was “unacceptable and a clear breach of Parliament’s rules”.

“We respect the role of media, but there are standards, and those standards matter.

“New Zealanders want a fair, balanced and accurate media reporting on the issues that matter to them – not a media-driven soap opera.”

On Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced he would no longer appear on TVNZ’s Breakfast show for his regular Monday morning interview slot with hosts Tova O’Brien and Chris Chang.

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.