Radio host Martin Devlin pre-empts NZME release of independent probe, claims he's headed back to Newstalk ZB
Friday, 25 June 2021
NZME’s independent investigation of broadcaster Martin Devlin is complete – with the man at the centre of the probe already claiming he’s in the clear and will soon be back on air.
Earlier this month NZME took Devlin, 57, off-air for a second time in three weeks as the result of more allegations about his workplace behaviour, including at least one formal complaint coming from a senior journalist at The New Zealand Herald.
Further allegations emerged after Stuff revealed Devlin had thrown a punch at a young colleague in the NZME newsroom – shared by the Herald and Newstalk ZB – on May 10.
Stuff understands the punch missed.
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* Broadcaster Martin Devlin off-air again as NZME investigates further allegations
* Radio host Martin Devlin gives on-air apology for throwing punch and 'unwelcome' messages
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At the time, Devlin apologised and also admitted sending unwelcome messages to other colleagues.
After an in-house investigation by radio boss Wendy Palmer initially cleared Devlin to return to his talkback show, NZME commissioned an independent investigation to examine the new allegations.
The media company has so far not identified who the independent investigator is – though Stuff can reveal their report is complete and has been supplied to NZME.
And according to Devlin, the findings have put him in the clear.
On Friday morning, Devlin was overheard in an Auckland cafe saying the latest investigation was done, he’d been cleared of allegations and would return to work in a couple of weeks.
Stuff took Devlin’s comments to NZME, who confirmed the independent investigation is complete.
But NZME would not comment on whether it agreed with Devlin’s assertions that he’d been cleared of allegations and would soon return to work.
“NZME can confirm we have received a report from the independent investigator which is now in the process of being reviewed,” a spokesman said.
“As this is a confidential employment matter, NZME will not be making any further comment at this time.”
After Devlin’s apology for the punch and unwelcome messages, NZME said it had been “made aware of matters allegedly involving on-air host Martin Devlin that require further investigation”.
“Martin will remain off-air while these matters are independently investigated and until they are appropriately resolved,” a statement said.
“Martin has said he will co-operate fully with the investigation.”
When NZME wrapped the first probe of Devlin and he returned to air, that in-house investigation was called into question by a victim.
Stuff revealed an advocate for the young colleague Devlin threw a punch at was in fresh talks with management of NZME.
Devlin's apology at the time said he felt “ashamed”.
“That shame is real and dumb in equal measure,” the statement said.
“My behaviour was wholly unacceptable, I am deeply, deeply sorry and have apologised to [the person I threw a punch at] and my other colleagues who witnessed it.”
Devlin also said he had mental health struggles.
“Ever since my father died in 2007 I’ve really struggled to keep an even keel and have battled depression, ever since,” he said.
“It's inexplicable that I feel shame, particularly after the incredible work that men like Mike King and John Kirwan have done to try and de-stigmatise mental illness, but I can tell you the shame is very real.
“It seems counterintuitive but perhaps admitting it publicly may help me. I begin therapy on Monday [May 24] to deal with my anger.”
Devlin is no stranger to controversy, with a chequered history both on and off-air.Two years ago NZME’s now-defunct station, Radio Sport, apologised after Devlin hit out at a woman live on air because she took an anti-rape banner into a cricket game.
The woman was author and award-winning journalist Madeleine Chapman, who took the banner in protest of 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.”
Also in 2019, Devlin didn’t appreciate media coverage of a Tenancy Tribunal dispute with his former landlord over unpaid bills.
He was ordered to pay his former landlord $1656 for failing to pay internet, power, gas, Sky TV and water bills.
Devlin reacted to reporting of information sourced from publicly-available documents by calling it “fake news” which had been “totally taken out of context”.
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 then-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.