Sherman was facing a temporary ban from covering politics at Parliament if the Speaker found TVNZ breached longstanding press gallery rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe matters relating to gallery behaviour and that of the TVNZ political editor last week are being considered in a process long agreed by the gallery,\u201d Brownlee said in a statement provided to Media Insider earlier today.<\/p>\n
Speaker Gerry Brownlee in his office at Parliament. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
A TVNZ spokeswoman earlier said: \u201cAs we said last week, we believe this is a matter for the Speaker. The Speaker is best to comment on their determinations, but we accept rulings that they make.\u201d<\/p>\n
TVNZ has been approached for fresh comment following news of the five-day ban.<\/p>\n
Media Insider also earlier approached the press gallery executive committee, which represents members of the media working at Parliament. Chair Anna Whyte said: \u201cQuestions concerning the outcome of the National Party\u2019s complaint regarding TVNZ are best directed to the Speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2011, then-Speaker Lockwood Smith removed parliamentary access cards from NZ Herald political staff for 10 days.<\/p>\n
The Herald reported at the time that the decision was \u201cwithout precedent\u201d. Then-editor Tim Murphy said at the time that the decision was \u201coutrageous\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Speaker\u2019s decision followed the publication on the Herald website of a photograph of guards and other people restraining a man who was trying to jump from the public gallery into the debating chamber.<\/p>\n
The suspension of the Herald\u2018s accreditation, on paper, barred the paper\u2019s journalists from the complex, including ministers\u2019 offices in the Beehive, but Herald journalists were – in this instance – able to rely on the goodwill of other journalists to get access to their offices.<\/p>\n
At the time, Smith said the photograph was a breach of standing orders, which prohibited filming of protests and other disruptions in the public gallery.<\/p>\n
National Party\u2019s TVNZ complaint<\/p>\n
The National Party last week laid an official complaint with TVNZ over what it described as the \u201cunacceptable\u201d behaviour of TVNZ staff after they tried to interview Stuart Smith.<\/p>\n
TVNZ previously said its staff were asking legitimate questions on behalf of the public and it had a \u201cdifferent view\u201d of what took place.<\/p>\n
Senior National Cabinet Minister Simeon Brown. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
Senior National MP Simeon Brown accused the TVNZ staff of breaching parliamentary rules by following Smith into a corridor area, \u201can area where media interviews are not allowed without express permission\u201d.<\/p>\n
Brown wrote on X that TVNZ staff \u201caggressively banged on [Smith\u2019s] door for several minutes, refusing to accept Mr Smith declining to add further to a statement he had already made\u201d.<\/p>\n
Brown did not specify how many TVNZ staff were involved.<\/p>\n
Brown further alleged that TVNZ staff \u201cpressured him [Smith] about how he would be portrayed on Breakfast the following morning if he did not come out to talk to TVNZ\u201d.<\/p>\n
A TVNZ spokeswoman said last week: \u201cOur journalist was asking questions on behalf of the public, as they do every day. This story came to light due to leaking from National Party MPs. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a legitimate story to follow. We look forward to Stuart Smith making himself available to explain his absence from caucus.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said TVNZ had \u201ca different view of what took place\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIrrespective, the correct place for complaints to be raised is with the Speaker of the House, who has authority over these matters, not with TVNZ or on social media. Simeon Brown is well aware of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sherman \u2018f***ot incident\u2019<\/p>\n
Sherman has already been in the spotlight this week, after revelations she allegedly used a homophobic slur during a social event in Finance Minister Nicola Willis\u2019 office last year.<\/p>\n
The Speaker is not involved in this issue.<\/p>\n
Political commentator Ani O\u2019Brien broke the story on her Substack page this week – it has also been revealed that Newstalk ZB was chasing the story and received a threatening legal letter from TVNZ during the course of its inquiries.<\/p>\n
TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman and (inset) Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr. Photos \/ TVNZ, supplied<\/p>\n