Might start a thread on my heroes in NZ journalism starting from 1975. 1. Geoff Black ATI tutor, ex Radio Hauraki news boss. Taught me how to recognise a news story from my first ever news interview on the course: ‘Gavin Muldoon wants pot legalised.’ Front page Auckland Star.

2. Tony Potter. In November 1975, was the Ak Star chief reporter who hired me based on an interview which asked what I’d bought at Vic Park market that day and who owned the winner of the Melbourne Cup. A brilliant journo who wrote the best intros ever.

3. Pat Booth. Hero. In late 70s, I ran bac from court with a story about a Niuean kid done for stealing a comb from his work, Consolidated Plastics. Stopped and searched on his way home. Pat turned it into a front page campaign that lasted days & led to charges being withdrawn.

4. Chauncey Stark. The unflappable chief reporter who succeeded Tony Potter. When he blinked at you and turned his gaze downward, you knew you had stuffed up big time. You never wanted to disappoint Chauncey. He told me off once in 1977 and I’ve never got over it.

5. The senior reporters at the Auckland Star when I joined. Bob Gilmore, Frank Earley, Warwick Roger, Ian Templeton, Jim Tully, Phil Gifford, Sue McPherson. Giants all. But pretty telling there were so few women.