NZME drops Ferg from The Hits, says 'thank you'

Veteran local broadcaster and Queenstown Lakes District councillor Craig 'Ferg' Ferguson has been dropped by his radio employer NZME.

In a statement to Crux this morning NZME says, “After nearly 20 years with NZME, Ferg will be finishing up on-air with The Hits on Friday 4 October. He will continue to be an important part of the NZME family, hosting the local Saturday morning sports show on Newstalk ZB, which he has done for almost 20 years.  

"We’d like to thank Ferg for his commitment to The Hits and NZME, and for the fantastic work he’s done in the local community.”

Mr Ferguson told local media earlier today that he'd been "blindsided" by the news. NZME did not comment when asked by Crux if their treatment of Mr Ferguson was inconsiderate considering his long service.

Mr Ferguson declined to speak with Crux this morning saying that he was preparing for today's full QLDC meeting.

Earlier he told Allied Press:

‘‘It’s come as a little bit of a shock, but I’m not the only person that’s going through it in the media world at the moment.

‘‘For the last 32 years, my role with radio has been about supporting the community and our residents.

‘‘It’s sad because that support for the community is not going to be there now, but who’s to say it’s a dead duck?’’

He said he had been ‘‘a little bit blindsided’’ by NZME’s move.

Mr Ferguson says he has not yet decided whether to stand again in next year's local body elections.