After his bride’s death just hours after their wedding, a devastated groom struggles to process his grief. Five years later, he turns to Melissa Chan-Green to tell his heart-wrenching story for the first time.
Content warning: contains discussion of death and loss, and sexual assault.
Watch the video version of the episode here.
A day after their wedding, a mourning groom struggles to process the death of his bride. A few kind words from Melissa Chan-Green brought him comfort, but her offer for him to tell his story was gently turned down.
Five years later, he would get back in touch with Melissa – ready to talk for the first time about the trauma of that day, and to channel his grief into raising awareness of the dangers of meningitis, the disease that claimed his beloved wife’s life.
In this conversation with Rev Frank Ritchie, Melissa reflects on the skill of being a human first and a journalist second, how she handled two young kids and a morning TV show on little sleep, and her career pivot after Newshub’s collapse.
Standing at Hillary Clinton’s election night ‘victory’ party in 2016, Jack Tame realised the real winner was elsewhere. Donald Trump’s rise to power exposed his blind spots as a reporter and fundamentally changed his journalism.
On election night 2016, Jack Tame joined the throngs of media at Hillary Clinton’s victory party. But as the results filtered through, it quickly became clear they were in the wrong place.
The real party was across town. Underdog Donald Trump had won.
Like many journalists, Jack had overlooked the discontent precipitating Trump's rise to power, and the experience rattled him – drawing attention to his blind spots as a reporter and fundamentally changing the way he covered major stories.
In this conversation with Rev Frank Ritchie, Jack Tame speaks about being 1NEWS’ US correspondent in the Trump era, the radio skills that have helped him excel on TV, and how he landed a chance interview with Sir David Attenborough in Antarctica.
Amanda Gillies was on the way to an interview when she got a call confirming Newshub’s closure. Despite the shock, she continued on – and in the telling of a brave Te Kūiti amputee’s story was reminded what had first drawn her to journalism.
Watch the video version of the episode here.
After a tip-off, Amanda Gillies drove to Te Kūiti to meet Bev McIndoe – a woman who had survived a catastrophic accident that left half her body amputated, and who now faced losing her home after an ACC funding cut.
But just five minutes from her destination, Amanda’s phone rang with news that turned her own world upside-down: Newshub was closing.
In shock, she decided to push on – and in sharing Bev’s story of grit and generosity, found her own perspective shifting and a timely reminder of why she became a journalist in the first place.
In this kōrero with Rev Frank Ritchie, Amanda Gillies opens up about the moment she learned her workplace of 23 years was shutting its doors, reflects on her time fronting The AM Show, and talks about her new role hosting RNZ’s The Detail.
A late-night dispute ended in tragedy when a young man killed his abusive father. Tommy Livingston’s sensitive reporting of the ensuing murder trial captured its emotion and complexity – and ultimately led him to leave journalism for good.
Content warning: Discusses suicide, domestic violence, abuse and violent themes.
While reporting on the trial of a man accused of murdering his violent father, reporter Tommy Livingston became consumed by the case and the heartbroken family’s story, turning up to court even on his days off.
Through discerning coverage of a complex death – one that both shattered a family and freed it from generations of abuse – Tommy earned their respect, but also came to the realisation journalism was no longer for him.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Tommy talks about the toll reporting took on his mental health, what he’s learned about trauma, and his new career as a counsellor.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm
Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
As politicians lost interest in seeking a resolution for the Pike River families, Lloyd Burr took up their cause. His tireless reporting exposed injustice and turned a waning news story into a pressing election issue.
Watch the video version of the episode here.
Six years on from the Pike River Mine disaster, hope was fading that the remains of the 29 men who lost their lives would ever be found. Politicians insisted it was too dangerous to re-enter the mine, and media interest in the story was waning.
But when Lloyd Burr came across a report suggesting re-entry was possible, he started to probe. His tireless reporting brought the issue back into the public consciousness and created renewed political will to seek justice for the Pike River families.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Lloyd talks about calling out injustice, what it’s like being made redundant twice in just over a year, and his hopes for the future of the media industry.
The death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore confirmed warnings journalist Dana Johannsen had long been hearing about the mental health risks for elite athletes. Her reporting would go on to expose the dark underbelly of high-performance sport in NZ.
Content warning: This podcast discusses mental health and suicide.
Watch the video version of the episode here.
When Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore died in 2021, journalist Dana Johannsen was shocked – but it wasn’t completely out of the blue. For years, athletes and their advocates had been sounding the alarm over a silent mental health crisis gripping elite sport in Aotearoa.
As speculation over the death swept the nation, Dana’s unrelenting coverage sought to understand how the system had failed a gifted athlete so badly at what should’ve been the prime of her career.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Dana also discusses reporting on the America’s Cup and Olympics, the reality of working in lockdown, and her love of home DIY.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Sixty years after the Battle of Crete, a Kiwi WWII veteran travelled back to Greece to find the family of the men who sheltered him from Nazi soldiers. Journalist Jonathan Milne chronicled their emotional meeting.
On a flight to Greece in 2001, journalist Jonathan Milne met a Kiwi veteran determined to find the Cretan locals who sheltered him from German troops for a year in Nazi-occupied Crete during World War II.
With only two names on a scrap piece of paper, Jonathan helped facilitate the reunion of Alan Hepburn with the family of his heroes – and uncovered a surprising New Zealand connection.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Jonathan also discusses his award-winning career, journalism’s problems with revenue and public trust, and why it’s healthy for reporters to own their mistakes.
When Te Aniwa Hurihanganui received a leaked document revealing details about the Government’s ill-fated Treaty Principles Bill, it sparked a political firestorm that would dominate headlines in 2024.
Content warning: contains violent and racist language.
Watch the video version of the episode here.
TVNZ Māori Affairs Correspondent Te Aniwa Hurihanganui was on her way to a hui-a-motu when she received a leaked document revealing key details about the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill.
Pivoting quickly from her original planned coverage, Te Aniwa got an immediate reaction to the document from arriving leaders, marking the start of a political firestorm that would dominate headlines over the next year.
In this interview with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Te Aniwa Hurihanganui also discusses the racism she has faced in her work, the sense of responsibility she carries in her reporting, and how she switches off.
When Elesha Gordon opened up publicly about her workplace anxiety, she discovered many other journalists in the same boat. Now she’s leading Media Chaplaincy, tackling burnout, trauma, and stress in the industry.
After years of threats, stresses and traumas as a reporter, Elesha Gordon shared her personal story in a blog. She was surprised to see how many fellow journalists had similar struggles, revealing the widespread pressures faced by those who work in news.
Now at the helm of Media Chaplaincy NZ, Elesha leads a nationwide team of chaplains who are committed to providing confidential support and encouragement to media personnel at no cost.
In this conversation with broadcaster and fellow media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Elesha discusses her experiences in journalism, how she’s helping others remain in media, and her long-term vision for mental health in the industry.
Struck by the disconnect between Wellington bureaucrats and frustrated Aucklanders stuck in Covid lockdown, Heather du-Plessis Allan held the country’s leaders to account in tenacious style.
When Heather du-Plessis Allan visited the capital in 2021, she was taken aback by how indifferent Wellington bureaucrats seemed about the frustration building among Aucklanders trapped in a months-long Covid lockdown.
Fueled by a frustration with the lack of scrutiny on the lockdown’s effectiveness, and strong backing from her Newstalk ZB audience, du-Plessis Allan’s persistent questioning of New Zealand’s top officials helped keep them accountable.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Heather reflects on her adaptation to talkback host on Newstalk ZB, her redundancy from Mediaworks, and how a shouting match with Jacinda Ardern helped form her into a tough interviewer.
When the call came in about a mass shooting, visual journalist Abigail Dougherty jumped on the first plane to Christchurch. The images she captured powerfully communicated the sorrow of New Zealand’s darkest day.
As Abigail Dougherty prepared to clock off for the week, a call came in about a mass shooting in Christchurch. Put on the next flight with nothing but her camera, her task was to capture the anguish of what would later be known as New Zealand’s darkest day.
Abigail’s heart-wrenching photos and videos for Stuff in the aftermath of the mosque terror attack captured the horror of what occurred that day, providing a visceral accompaniment to reports of the shockwaves it was sending through the community.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Abigail recounts her surreal, emotional coverage of March 15, how she manages covering traumatic events, and how an unexpected trip to Papua New Guinea gave her a start in visual journalism.
As broadcaster Simon Barnett came to terms with his wife Jodi’s fatal illness, Shayne Currie came alongside the family to tell their story. His tender piece allowed the family to process their grief and honour Jodi’s life.
When it was clear his wife Jodi had just weeks to live, broadcaster Simon Barnett called NZME Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie to let him know it was the right time for an interview.
Shayne’s sensitive and compassionate story – which enabled Simon and their four daughters to tell Jodi’s story, and reflect on her legacy of love – gave space for the family to process their grief and pay tribute to a “perfect” wife and mother.
In this interview with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Shayne talks about the care he took communicating Jodi’s story, takes a look back on his impressive career, and analyses the rapidly changing face of journalism.
As politicians argued about solutions to poverty during the election cycle, Indira Stewart took the discourse to street level, giving a voice to teens working full-time on top of schooling to support their whanau.
Most aspiring reporters don’t have to juggle university, solo motherhood and a benefit to get their start in journalism. But Indira Stewart knew she was born to be a storyteller, and her determination to make it a reality against the odds would ultimately land her in one of the industry’s top jobs.
Despite her success, Indira has never forgotten her roots, using her platform to highlight marginalised groups whose stories too often go unheard. During the 2023 election cycle, this saw her give voice to teens working full-time on top of schooling to support their whānau.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Indira discusses her journey from reality TV star to journalist, her determination to be a role model to Pasifika women, and the courage required to tell truths that are hard to hear.
When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Lisette Reymer risked her own safety to report from the frontline. Her empathetic, award-winning coverage expertly captured the human face of the conflict.
When Lisette Reymer landed her dream job as Newshub’s Europe Correspondent, she had to hit the ground running amid massive stories like the Covid-19 pandemic, the Queen’s death, and humanitarian crises in Turkey and the Middle East.
[audio_play] Listen to Lisette Reymer about life as Newshub's Europe Correspondent from war to world cups
But it was Lisette's courageous, empathetic reporting from the frontlines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that marked her out as a special talent. Her coverage, capturing the human face of war, saw her win the coveted title of Best Reporter at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Lisette discusses the stress of reporting from a warzone, how she’s navigated traumatic stories, and reflects on her time at Newshub ahead of a move to Stuff.
A surprise phone call from a sister Aaron Smale never knew existed led to an investigation into state abuse. His questions would ultimately result in an award-winning exposé of the heinous goings-on at Lake Alice Hospital.
When Aaron Smale received a phone call from a sister he never knew existed one Christmas Day, it left him with more questions than answers.
Aaron’s subsequent investigation into state welfare abuse, and the racist underbelly that enabled it to go unchallenged for years, would ultimately lead to his award-winning exposé of Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital – an epicentre of some of New Zealand’s most shameful abuse.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Aaron discusses his personal experience in the state system, the Abuse in Care Inquiry his journalism brought about, and the personal toll of telling stories involving immense trauma.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
With decades of experience as one of New Zealand’s most prominent television journalists, Mark Crysell recounts gaining unprecedented access to follow a set of unlikely New Zealanders into North Korea.
Mark Crysell’s love of television and passion for telling a good yarn has led to him becoming one of New Zealand’s most prominent journalists.
He has reported for TVNZ’s Sunday programme since 2003, been TVNZ's Europe Correspondent based in London and won multiple awards including Best Current Affairs Reporter at the Qantas Media Awards, Best Weekly Current Affairs Report at the NZ TV awards in 2012, and Broadcast Reporter of the Year at the 2021 Voyager Media Awards.
In this episode, Mark tells media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie of his early career highlights and then takes us behind the scenes of how he and his team gained unprecedented access into North Korea.
After decades as one of the country's best-known journalists, Cameron Bennett took on a unique new challenge: to educate the nation on the New Zealand Wars and help tell Māori stories.
A legendary figure in New Zealand journalism across several decades, Cameron Bennett is revered for his ability to tell a compelling story, his courage to report from some of the world's most dangerous places, and his broadcasting brilliance.
But his most recent work has presented a unique challenge. As well as helping tell the stories that matter to Māori for a Māori audience on Te Ao with Moana, Cameron has played a key role in producing an award-winning documentary series about the New Zealand Wars.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Cameron talks about being a Pākehā journalist at a Māori news organisation, regales us with tales of reporting from warzones, and lifts the lid on Paul Holmes' infamous interview with Dennis Conner.
As fast-food workers suffered under the indignity of zero-hour contracts, Anna Burns-Francis stepped up to tell their stories. Her tireless reporting forced corporations to put employee welfare over greed.
When Anna Burns-Francis began her investigation into zero-hour contracts, she was gobsmacked. Fast-food giants had been hiring Kiwis without guaranteeing them any work, all while preventing them getting another job.
Anna's tenacious reporting exposed how greed was being prioritised at the expense of worker wellbeing, pressuring some of the world's wealthiest corporations into changing their policies and setting the wheels in motion on a groundbreaking law change.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Anna discusses taking on the big guns while at Campbell Live, the demands of being TVNZ's US correspondent, and how approaching a story with curiosity can foster care for each other.
A shock diagnosis forced Simon Wilson to come to terms with his own mortality. Rather than let it derail his work, the veteran journalist made the bold call to bring readers along on each step of his gruelling cancer journey.
Just before Christmas 2017, veteran journalist Simon Wilson received a life-changing phone call. He had prostate cancer, and it wasn't looking good.
Having just taken a job at the Herald, he bravely decided to let New Zealand have a peek behind the hospital curtain by penning his Cancer Diaries. Keeping a record of each brutal moment of his illness brought him catharsis and his readers comfort.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Simon discusses coming to terms with his own mortality, his experiences as the editor of several of New Zealand's top magazines, and the conundrum of paywalled journalism.
As stories tumbled out about ACC's handling of sensitive client data, Anusha Bradley was there holding the agency to account. Her award-winning coverage prompted an independent review, policy changes and legal reform.
When Anusha Bradley first reported on ACC staff's mishandling of a couple's sensitive case details, she had no idea she was about to be inundated with story after story about the Crown agency's failures.
Anusha's dogged and award-winning reporting exposed a lax approach to privacy and other systemic issues, prompting a review into how ACC handles private information and major law reforms for women who suffer birth injuries.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Anusha talks about the burden of carrying people's stories, her experience holding ACC to account, and why she's feeling buoyant about the future of journalism.