I’m no apologist and probably never shall be of Andrew Little’s, but I did feel uncharacteristically sorry for him a couple of weeks ago when, just as he was starting to make traction against the government’s handling of the Panama Papers, a newsreader at TV3 decided to quit her job and subsequently featured in the headlines for days.
Mrs Barry’s surprise decision caused unforeseen outcomes and even the unexpected resignation of TV 3’s CEO Mark Weldon
There are some Wairarapa connections in all of this and even one or two subtle ironies.
In 1992 Paul Henry set up a fledgling radio station called Today FM on a shoe-string budget in the old Masonic Hall in Carterton’s Holloway Street. He used second-hand gear and some second-hand staff including his old boss from Radio Wairarapa, veteran broadcaster Johnny Shearer, plus a Masterton butcher, who shall remain nameless, who was his talkback host from 9 to 10 each morning.
He also employed a newsreader named Georgina Beyer. I was only there for an hour a day so I’m not entirely sure just how competent Ms Beyer was at her job, but after a few months, Paul terminated her employment. I don’t know if there was any acrimony in the process; Donald Trump would simply have said, “You’re fired!”
(The irony bit starts here because seven years later, in 1999, Paul was the National Party candidate for Wairarapa and was up against the self-same Ms Beyer. She won the contest comfortably.)
Going back to when Georgina Beyer’s contract was terminated, Mr Henry replaced her with a savvy young lady fresh out of journalism school named Hilary Pankhurst. From my casual observation Ms Pankhurst was a consummate professional from day one.
The little station operated successfully for a year when Paul was made an offer for the business he couldn’t refuse from a South Island consortium and subsequently moved on to higher grounds and greener pastures.
Today FM went on to become Hitz 89 FM and then More FM, the name it trades under today.
Ms Pankhurst eventually moved to Auckland where she married Mike Barry the son of All Black Kevin Barry who played his early rugby for Wairarapa-Bush.
Paul’s following career included manager of National Radio under CEO Sharon Crosby, then a move to Auckland where he worked for Radio Pacific and Radio Live eventually hosting the breakfast show on TV One and was publically voted “Broadcaster of the Year.” However after making comments deemed by some to be unacceptable, TV One did a “Donald Trump” on Paul who then had a short stint on Australian TV where they obviously didn’t quite get his unique brand of humour.
He is now back hosting the hugely successful Paul Henry on TV 3 alongside his old colleague, Hilary Barry.
There was criticism that Ms Barry’s resignation was given such prominence, after all, some commentators reported, “She is just a newsreader.” But I think that’s understating her talent. She has that inexplicable attribute known as the x-factor and is the perfect foil for Henry’s exuberance and oft-times outrageous utterances.
They are a nationally recognised “dream team” that had its genesis in the heart of the Wairarapa.
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