Hot Off the Press Release: Tonight Latest COVID Casualty

TVNZ 1 is taking Tonight off air during the level 3 COVID-19 alert as part of the network’s redeployment of resources.

Here’s the media release:

1 NEWS changes during Auckland’s Alert Level 3

1 NEWS’ Auckland team will make a number of changes to operate safely during Alert Level 3 – some of which viewers will notice on screen and others which will happen behind the scenes.

Like Alert Level 4 earlier this year, our journalists will work in ‘red’ and ‘blue’ squads covering shifts from Monday – Sunday. There will be no cross over between these two teams, ensuring 1 NEWS can continue even if one group is impacted by Covid-19.

Viewers will see Simon Dallow hosting the 6pm news with the red team and Wendy Petrie presenting with the blue team. Hayley Holt will move forward her first presenting day with 1 NEWS Sport to Monday 17 August (red team).

In order to achieve this outcome, Tonight will come off air temporarily. Tonight will be redeployed to support the split news team.

Weekday news programmes, Breakfast and Seven Sharp will retain their regular presenting line-up. Presenters in these teams will sit separately from the wider newsroom.

Melissa Stokes and Anna Burns-Francis will appear in the Breakfast newsreader role while a permanent replacement is found to cover Jenny-May Clarkson’s move into the show’s presenting chair.

There is no impact to weekly shows Fair Go and Sunday.