DRUG-TAKING ROW AT TVNZ

ONE of four TVNZ staff accused of smoking marijuana with pro-cannabis
campaigners is understood to be fighting for his job after telling
colleagues he was involved.

TVNZ received a complaint about a story, screened on Close Up on
Tuesday, which followed cannabis-campaigner Dakta Green from Auckland
to Waitangi.

Part of the complaint alleged that TVNZ staffers smoked cannabis on
the National Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) protest bus at
Waitangi, once filming had finished.

It also claimed the state broadcaster's employees' actions had been
captured on film and video. It's understood that when a reporter was
confronted by more senior TVNZ staff about the allegations, he
acknowledged his involvement and that of three other co-workers whom
he identified.

One of the other staff members involved is believed to have denied
the allegations and another is understood to have blamed "peer pressure".

Sunday News has chosen not to name those involved, one of whom was
hand-picked by a TVNZ executive who has mentored him.

TVNZ publicist Megan Richards said: "We've had some serious
allegations drawn to our attention and there is an investigation
currently underway.

"We can offer a reassurance that the issue is being handled
appropriately but because it is an employment issue, and employment
issues are always constrained by very strict protocol, we can't,
we're not able to, comment any further at this stage."

Sunday News understands no TVNZ staff have been stood down in
relation to the cannabis claims.

Yesterday, Green, a Norml board member and the founder of New
Zealand's first cannabis club the Daktory, would not "confirm or
deny" any TVNZer had smoked cannabis with Norml members.

But in February when Sunday News reported that Daktories may open
nationwide, Green claimed a TVNZ employee had smoked at the New Lynn
Daktory after One News did a story there when it opened in November 2008.

The 59-year-old said he had not seen any photos or video of TVNZ
employees smoking cannabis at Waitangi, nor did he know if the
material existed.

He said he didn't know who complained to TVNZ. Making such complaints
was against both Norml and Daktory protocol.

"In no way, shape or form, would anyone involved with Norml or the
Daktory cause anyone else harm relating to their use or non-use of
cannabis to their employer, to their family ... to anyone," he said.

Green said the allegations may have simply been "exaggerated for
effect" because the sender was "angry" at the Close Up story, which
he said was "unbalanced and biased". The story showed lots of footage
of cannabis smoking which had been manipulated.

The five minute-plus story also contained footage more than a year
old - without any time reference - of a Norml member who has been in
jail for nine months.

Despite thinking the story was a "piece of st" Green said "it was
unfortunate" TVNZ staff members were now being investigated. "I don't
think anyone's job should be at risk for doing something in their own
time," he said.

Pro-cannabis campaigners have made complaints about the item to the
Broadcasting Standards Authority and Green is also intending to send one.