Maiki Sherman-lloyd Burr Legal: everything we know so far

Former head of Stripe Studios faces wrath of ex-wife; new Stuff legal threat in Maiki Sherman-Lloyd Burr case; Herald journalist faces PR ‘conflict’ claim; indie agency wins big Warehouse advertising account; a tribute to photographer Jason Oxenham; ZB’s new marketing campaign. Maiki Sherman-lloyd Burr Legal has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in New Zealand.

Key facts

• Former head of Stripe Studios faces wrath of ex-wife; new Stuff legal threat in Maiki Sherman-Lloyd Burr case; Herald journalist faces PR ‘conflict’ claim; indie agency wins big Warehouse advertising account; a tribute to photographer Jason Oxenham; ZB’s new marketing campaign.
• The Maiki Sherman-Lloyd Burr saga has taken a new turn with media firm Stuff now sending two strongly worded legal threats to the political commentator who broke the story about the incident.
• Fraud-accused Alex Breingan has been living in Los Angeles since 2024; TVNZ's Maiki Sherman and Stuff's Lloyd Burr.
• “The article contains the allegation that Stuff employee, Mr Burr, used a... slur,” Stuff chief legal officer Allison Whitney wrote.
• Maiki Sherman has been suspended from Parliament from May 1 to May 6.

What we know

Going deeper, the Maiki Sherman-Lloyd Burr saga has taken a new turn with media firm Stuff now sending two strongly worded legal threats to the political commentator who broke the story about the incident.

On the substance, Fraud-accused Alex Breingan has been living in Los Angeles since 2024; TVNZ's Maiki Sherman and Stuff's Lloyd Burr.

Beyond the headlines, Maiki Sherman has been suspended from Parliament from May 1 to May 6.

More precisely, Finance Minister shut down event after journalist's alleged homophobic slur 28 Apr 2026 TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman is alleged to have used a homophobic slur against journalist Lloyd Burr Finance Minister shut down event after TVNZ political editor used alleged homophobic slur.

It is worth noting that Earlier this week, Burr also told Media Insider: “I can tell you right now that I have never used a... slur to Maiki or anyone.”

By the numbers

“In all honesty, it truly nearly killed me,” wrote Hart, a former TV3 reporter who has built a strong social media following as the ‘One Handed Baker’.

“He was my best friend for 25 years, my husband for 22 years, I supported him chasing his career goals (while forced to give up mine) – and he’s treated me like absolute dirt.”

Going deeper, the Serious Fraud Office has laid 33 charges against Breingan, relating to almost $15 million in public and private funding for 13 TV shows, produced under the banner of his Auckland-based Stripe Media (Stripe Studios) company and associated firms.

On the substance, the SFO charges follow a two-year investigation by the agency and work by receivers BDO, which uncovered debts of more than $20m and “irregularities” in the accounts of the failed Stripe companies.

What they're saying

“The article contains the allegation that Stuff employee, Mr Burr, used a... slur,” Stuff chief legal officer Allison Whitney wrote.

“Here am I in the bizarre situation of simultaneously receiving aggressive legal correspondence about my Substack article while the sender of that correspondence is quite literally relying on that same piece in order to write and publish its own reports on the matter,” she wrote.

“I’m trying to make sense (if that’s even possible) of what’s happened to my life.”

The wider context

On a related note, TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman allegedly directed a homophobic slur at Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr during a function in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office in May last year.

Going deeper, Stuff has sent legal correspondence to O’Brien, taking issue with the way she framed Burr’s alleged involvement in the incident.

On the substance, TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman is alleged to have used a homophobic slur against journalist Lloyd Burr.

Beyond the headlines, Rachel Hart said it had been two years since her husband left New Zealand, “abandoning his family and leaving me to cope with an absolute mountain of stress, legal issues and bills alone”.

More precisely, Stuff wrote to Ani O’Brien, unhappy about the way she framed the position of Burr, who works for Stuff, in the original article on her Substack page.

The bottom line

• The Maiki Sherman-Lloyd Burr saga has taken a new turn with media firm Stuff now sending two strongly worded legal threats to the political commentator who broke the story about the incident.
• Sherman, TVNZ’s political editor, allegedly called Burr a “f***ot” during a pre-Budget social event in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ office in May last year.
• She reported that Burr had denied making a certain type of slur to Sherman.
• Searches spiking right now: 'He's treated me like absolute dirt': Fraud-accused TV boss's ex-wife left with bills; New Sherman-Burr legal threat, Mike Hosking says TVNZ 'threatened to sue us' over Maiki Sherman story, Hosking says team received TVNZ legal letter while probing alleged slur claim, TVNZ's Maiki Sherman allegedly used homophobic slur in incident involving Lloyd Burr in Nicola Willis' office.