Labour voices doubt broadcaster Paul Henry has ‘maturity’ for TVNZ board

Friday, 27 June 2025

Career broadcaster Paul Henry has been appointed by the Government to the board of TVNZ.

Labour broadcasting spokesperson Reuben Davidson has criticised a Government decision to appoint polarising broadcaster Paul Henry to the board of TVNZ.

Announcing the surprise appointment, Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said Henry had “a deep and passionate understanding of the sector” and would enhance the board’s insight and strategic decision-making.

But Davidson said Henry had proved “he wasn’t qualified to be a responsible host of morning news”.

“I am not sure he has the maturity for governance of our state-owned broadcaster,” Davidson said.

“Under a Labour government the board and its focus will be up for review,” he said.

Henry unsuccessfully stood for the National Party in the Wairarapa in the 1999 election. Davidson described him as “simply another mate” of the party.

Henry, who has been approached for comment, was a former host of TVNZ’s Breakfast show until he left the network in 2010 in the wake of making what was widely regarded as a racist remark relating to then Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand during an interview with then-Prime Minister John Key.

Henry later criticised the broadcaster for failing to support him.

He has been a vocal critic of the latter stages of the handling of the Covid pandemic by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying as a guest speaker at an ACT Party rally last year that Labour had squandered the opportunity the pandemic gave New Zealand and left it saddled with “astonishing debt”.

Earlier this month he was selected to be the host of popular game show The Chase New Zealand, which will be broadcast by TVNZ.

Goldsmith noted his experience also included being heavily involved in the launch of former radio network Today FM.

Henry’s appointment to the TVNZ board comes in the wake of controversy over the appointment of former National Party senior minister and campaign manager Steven Joyce as chairperson of NZX-listed media firm NZME.

Responding last month to the prospect of that appointment, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was concerned about the prospect of a partisan private media emerging in New Zealand.