The Broadcasting Minister is anticipating a response from TVNZ within "two or three days" about whether the proper recruitment process was followed in employing Kamahl Santamaria as Breakfast host earlier this year.
Santamaria resigned from the Breakfast position on Saturday - just over a month after joining the TVNZ production - amid reports of a complaint of inappropriate behaviour there. In the days since, Newshub has verified complaints were made about Santamaria at his previous employer, Al Jazeera and seen an inappropriate email one former colleague says he sent her.
Staff at TVNZ have reportedly raised concerns about the process of hiring Santamaria. Paul Yurisich, the state-owned broadcaster's current Head of News and Current Affairs, also previously worked at Al Jazeera as an executive producer.
Kris Faafoi, the Broadcasting Minister, on Tuesday said it wasn't his role "to get involved in HR issues", but he has sought assurances from TVNZ - which is state-owned, but independently operated - that the right processes were followed when Santamaria was hired for the high-profile role.
He told reporters he expects a response in "two or three days", but doesn't want to place a "time constraint on them".
Faafoi wouldn't say whether he was satisfied with TVNZ's management of the situation so far.
"That is not for me to comment on. Those issues are for TVNZ. We have sought an assurance that processes around recruitment are adhered to. It's important as a Government, as a public broadcaster, that we have assurances of that."
Recruitment processes should be "robust", he said.
Newshub has seen an email from Santamaria to a former co-worker at Al Jazeera, in which he says: "There is no more attractive outfit on a woman than the white blouse/black skirt combo and YOU are making it work, baby."
The message was sent in conjunction with several instances of unwanted physical advances in the workplace, its recipient said.
The woman who received the email at Al Jazeera told Newshub she eventually complained to management about Santamaria's behaviour. While she isn't aware what the consequences were, she said he subsequently ceased harassing her and instead ignored her in the workplace.
At the time she made her complaint, Yurisich did not work at Al Jazeera.
Newshub understands Santamaria's "creepy, touchy-feely" reputation was well known and talked about among female staff members at Al Jazeera.
When asked about Santamaria's exit, TVNZ said it doesn't comment on individual employment matters.
