Martin Devlin victim unhappy with NZME's in-house probe of disgraced broadcaster
Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Media company NZME’s in-house investigation of disgraced broadcaster Martin Devlin is being called into question by one of the veteran's victims.
Stuff can reveal an advocate for the young colleague Devlin threw a punch at in the workplace on May 10 is in fresh talks with management of NZME – parent company of talkback radio station Newstalk ZB and sister newspaper The New Zealand Herald.
Shane Te Pou – a former Labour Party executive and union organiser, now working as a political commentator – is supporting the young NZME worker Devlin threw a punch at in the office.
Stuff revealed Devlin’s latest controversy last Friday. The 57-year-old publicly admitted throwing the punch after Stuff published a story about it. Devlin also admitted sending inappropriate messages to “other colleagues”.
**READ MORE:
* Radio host Martin Devlin gives on-air apology for throwing punch and 'unwelcome' messages
* Martin Devlin unhappy about Tenancy Tribunal coverage
* Martin Devlin: 'I have missed the mark'
**
Stuff now understands NZME managing editor Shayne Currie – a member of the company's executive – was part of a meeting on Tuesday with Te Pou.
Te Pou said the young NZME worker he's advocating for is a family friend he's known “since he was a baby” and is happy to help.
He described a meeting at NZME on Tuesday as “forthright” but that the talks were constructive.
Specifically, the advocate says there is dissatisfaction with NZME's probe of Devlin so far.
“We’re not comfortable with the way the investigation was handled, but we’re still hopeful of a resolution,” Te Pou said.
Do you know more? Email simon.plumb@stuff.co.nz or call Stuff's Auckland newsroom (09) 374 4752.
When asked about the situation by Stuff, NZME said it was “unable to and would not comment on the specifics of any employment matters regarding individual employees”.
“In relation to the incident that you refer to, and covered in media reports last week, NZME is confident in the way the investigation was carried out based on the information presented,” a spokesman said.
Devlin has kept his job after admitting he threw a punch at the journalist in the open-plan newsroom this month.
Stuff understands Devlin’s punch missed.
In a lengthy statement issued on Friday, after Stuff had revealed the May 10 newsroom incident, Devlin said NZME had done an internal investigation of him “led by the chief of radio Wendy Palmer” who sits on the organisation’s executive.
NZME did not respond to questions from Stuff about whether it was Palmer who did the work, and whether her investigation contained measures to ensure the young person’s safety.
NZME would also not say whether it planned to launch an independent, external review of the in-house investigation.
In Devlin’s May 21 statement, he said he was “ashamed” by his outburst and for sending unwelcome messages to “other colleagues”.
The statement was issued shortly after Stuff’s story detailed how Devlin had been missing from his long-time Newstalk ZB sport programme, The Devlin Radio Show, without explanation.
The veteran’s absence followed him hosting a Monday evening sport slot on May 10.
During that shift, Stuff understands Devlin threw the punch after being refused details of a breaking news story.
Sources told Stuff that Devlin verbally abused his young colleague, before lashing out with his fist.
Devlin did not respond to specific questions from Stuff at the time, but moments after the article went live, he issued his statement by email.
It read: “An incident happened at work last week. I lost my rag at a radio colleague and have rightly been away from the studios while NZME has undertaken a process to investigate and determine what happened and ensure the safety of its people.
“I took a swing at my colleague during a discussion that became heated.
“My behaviour was wholly unacceptable, I am deeply, deeply sorry and have apologised to him and my other colleagues who witnessed it.”
In the statement, Devlin also admitted sending what he called “welcome messages to other colleagues”.
Devlin said he felt “ashamed”, adding: “That shame is real and dumb in equal measure.”
After refusing to respond to inquiries on the incident for more than a week, NZME also issued a statement after the article was published.
“NZME does not comment publicly on any employment matters.
“At all times, providing a workplace that is healthy, safe and inclusive remains our ultimate duty of care to all of our people and we have robust processes and policies in place to support this.
“Our commitment is that when we deal with issues and concerns, the wellbeing of our people is a responsibility we take incredibly seriously.”
Devlin was off-air for 10 days after the newsroom incident, with stand-in hosts announcing they were “in for Martin Devlin”, without giving listeners a reason.
He returned to his show on May 22, in which he made an on-air apology.
NZME has apologised on Devlin’s behalf before.
The woman was author and award-winning journalist Madeleine Chapman, who took the banner in protest at Scott Kuggeleijn’s inclusion in the Black Caps squad. Kuggeleijn faced two trials in 2016 and 2017, on charges of raping a woman in 2015. The first jury was undecided and the second found him not guilty.
Devlin called Chapman “the lowest form of life” and “dickheadish”, adding “hope you've got no skeletons rattling away there, love”.
In a statement, Devlin defended his comments as humour, saying: “I have missed the mark with my satire but I'm always learning.”
In 2016, Devlin threatened and abused a listener on air in an expletive-laden attack. After receiving a text from an unknown number, Devlin attempted to call the number back, on live radio.
He didn’t reveal the content of the message, but threatened to track the person down to their workplace and give the same abuse back.
In 2011, Devlin was charged by police with disorderly behaviour after an argument with his wife in downtown Auckland. The disorder charge was dropped after he completed a police diversion scheme - a course where the prosecution can agree to allow an offender to be dealt with out of court.
The same year, police removed him from a flight for alleged unruly behaviour, after the captain called for help. In response, Devlin told media at the time the flight crew had overreacted to questions about a delay.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly quoted Martin Devlin as sending “inappropriate messages” to colleagues. His actual quote referenced “unwelcome messages”. Updated 9.43am, June 26, 2021.