A television news reporter in New Zealand faces a five-day suspension from parliamentary coverage following violations of established media protocols, according to an announcement Thursday from Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee.
Maiki Sherman, who serves as the political correspondent for New Zealand’s public television network TVNZ, engaged in behavior while seeking an interview that “went beyond the prescription and spirit of the rules that had previously been agreed by the press gallery and parliament,” Brownlee stated.
In his official statement, the Speaker noted that “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 parliamentary suspension affects Sherman’s access from May 1 through May 6, according to Brownlee’s announcement.
Brownlee also acknowledged that “Other outlets also breached parliamentary rules as they pursued a story relating to the National Party caucus activities on April 21.”
National Party Minister Simeon Brown took to social media platform X to describe the incident, claiming TVNZ personnel pursued National Whip Stuart Smith into a restricted interview area without proper authorization and “aggressively banged on his door for several minutes.”
Sherman has not yet provided a response to media requests for comment regarding the suspension.
