Sherman was originally assigned to the trip for TVNZ, but two sources told Media Insider on Friday that she was no longer on it.
A TVNZ spokeswoman would not confirm whether Sherman herself had pulled out of the PM’s trip, or if TVNZ had made the call.
TVNZ journalist and soon-to-be new Business Breakfast host Mei Heron has replaced Sherman.
“Yes, Mei will be travelling to Singapore. We have no further comment to make on the matter,” the TVNZ spokeswoman told Media Insider last night.
TVNZ reporter and new Business Breakfast host Mei Heron. Photo / TVNZ
Heron’s new Business Breakfast show launches on Monday week, May 11. It will be broadcast between 6am and 6.30am, before Breakfast.
Sherman has been under intense scrutiny over two matters in the past week.
Political commentator Ani O’Brien revealed this week that Sherman was involved in an incident with another journalist, Lloyd Burr, in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office in May last year, in which she allegedly directed a homophobic slur at Burr.
The exact details of what led up to the alleged comment have not been revealed.
The National Party also complained about the way Sherman tried to interview whip Stuart Smith in a corridor late on Tuesday last week.
National claimed TVNZ staff followed Smith into an area where interviews were not allowed without express permission, and aggressively banged on a door for several minutes.
TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman.
For that specific, latter incident, Speaker Gerry Brownlee has banned Sherman from covering Parliament for five days.
He said that the five-day suspension was “the most appropriate course of action”.
He said Sherman “went beyond the prescription and spirit of the rules that had previously been agreed by the press gallery and Parliament”.
“Ms Sherman, the TVNZ political editor, has informed me that it was not her intention to go beyond the rules, but accepts that she did, and has accepted also the decision on this matter.”
The state broadcaster earlier defended the behaviour of its staff but said it was up to the Speaker to determine whether there had been a breach of Parliamentary press gallery rules.
Brownlee also said on Wednesday: “At the same time, I would point out that other outlets also breached parliamentary rules as they pursued a story relating to the National Party caucus activities on April 21.
“While I’m not able to identify individuals who were part of those breaches, I have been aware that the TVNZ political editor engaged in attempts to secure an interview that went beyond the prescription and spirit of the rules that had previously been agreed by the press gallery and Parliament.”
He said his decision “means that all aspects of the protocols between the Parliament represented by the Speaker’s office and the press gallery have been satisfied”.
PM’s Singapore visit
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is questioned by TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman. File photo / Mark Mitchell
The PM’s office this week said Luxon would be leaving for Singapore on Sunday and returning on Wednesday.
Willis and Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay are also on the trip.
Luxon will take part in the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum and meet Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
“Singapore is one of New Zealand’s most important partners in Southeast Asia, and we back each other when it matters, including as global fuel and supply-chain disruptions put pressure on our economies,” Luxon said.
As part of the trip, he would witness the signing of an agreement to help keep “essential trade flowing in times of crisis and supply-chain disruption”.
“With a third of New Zealand’s fuel refined in Singapore, this relationship has a direct bearing on New Zealand’s economic security. Fuel is also part of the regional food-security story – diesel underpins New Zealand’s freight, farming and production systems that keep food moving to Singapore across the region.”
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.