Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - JONO AND BEN CHAT WITH MIKE MCROBERTS ABOUT THE CLOSING OF NEWSHUB

Episode Date: July 4, 2024

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Kia ora and good morning to Mike McRoberts. Mo rā, mo rā. Lovely to be with you guys and thrilling really, you know, on the last day of my News Hub career. We've had so many good chats over the years, I've really loved it. Oh, we love talking to you and what a wonderful career, you know. If you look back on it, because what was it, 2005 did you start reading the news on News Hub? You were obviously a reporter before that on TV1 and on TV3. Was that how long you've been reading the news for? Yeah, yeah.

So this is my 20th year doing 6 o'clock. I was looking forward to the gold watch, but there you go. But there was the station, you know, where you've all worked there, you know, the station that was the underdog station. You know, everyone seemed to, like, work hard, take some risks, maybe bend the rules occasionally. It sort of had that sort of work ethic and environment for a while. Yeah, I think that was part of the TV3 culture and one that I really loved.

And I know you flourished in it too, Ben. It's incredible when you think, you know, and I've kind of, my mindset this week is it has been a bit torturous over the last four months. But my mindset this week has been very much about celebrating what we achieved and been walking out, you know, feeling really good about what we've done. Well, I mean, imagine you looking back on your career. You have been to the war-torn zones of the world, probably some of the greatest journalism this country will see.

And I was reading too, also in typical TV3 fashion as well, without insurance sometimes, without life insurance. So typical of TV3, isn't it? But that was back in the day when I trusted the CEO. He's like, it's done now. The whole time, I can tell you. Yeah, so they were like, well, look after your family if anything happens is what they'd say to you.

Yeah, yeah, it was a good incentive to get back. Yeah, yeah, it was. I mean, it basically just took out a massive chunk of the cost and meant that I had the opportunity to go and tell those stories. But, I mean, looking back at it now, what the hell are you thinking? Yeah, yeah. So stand out over the 20 years. What is in your mind as your greatest career moment?

It would have to be Dancing with the Stars. We saw another side of you. I definitely enjoyed it. I'm getting PTSD just from what you just talked about. No life insurance on that one either, I understand. No, no. There's so many highlights. Obviously going to war zones and going to big natural disasters

around the world, being the only New Zealand journalist there. Incredible highlights. But I think probably the thing that I'll miss the most, those teams you work in, whether it's big events like Olympics or Commonwealth Games, we had such amazing teamwork. And it's taken a lot of teamwork over these past few months to get the news to air every night. And I just want to acknowledge the amazing professionalism

of my colleagues to do that. It's quite humbling. And tonight we get to do it for the last time. And I don't know what I'm going to say at the end, but it'll come. I don't know if this would soften the blow at all, but I know you're going to be leaving three studios

but you won't be leaving our memories like I will always remember you for so many events and like Dancing with the Stars part of everyone's lives

you are part of our lives and we won't forget it I think you brought that back quite well Megan it started off being a little bit creepy but I didn't want to start

with Dancing with the Stars. What are you doing? Are we allowed to ask that, Mike? Oh, you can. Yeah, I've been very lucky, actually. I've got a role with the NBR, National Business Review, so it's like a proper job.

You have to wear a suit. I know you have to wear a suit anyway. Yeah, that's it. He's done that for a while. I've created a role for me, which is Te Ao Māori editor. So I'll be doing stories on the Māori economy and that kind of thing. So it's very exciting and I feel very lucky to have that.

Oh, listen, mate. Well, thank you for everything that you and the team have done over the decades that 3 News and News Hub has been in our lives. Oh, thank you. And thank you to you guys, too. You've been such massive supporters and you know probably the weirdest and strangest things i've done on television associated with you well yeah and you said that you know when we when our tv show john on ben finished up you got up and

it wasn't on screen although it wasn't for the tv you got up in front of everyone you came along to the last show firstly and then you said said wonderful, lovely, beautiful words. So thank you so much for that. That meant a huge amount to us. Great. Well, I'll give you the address for tonight. We'll turn up. Probably won't mean the same coming for Jono and I if we turn up.

We're like, hey, guys. We've just got a few words. Doesn't quite come with the same gravitas as when Jono and Ben are talking about. We don't have the same manner. I'm sorry, Mike. Listen, good luck with the new job Hopefully I dare say We'll see each other around

And thanks once again Thank you my friends