Richard Long (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Richard Long is a former New Zealand
broadcaster, initially with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC)
, subsequently with Television New Zealand
(TVNZ). He co-hosted the 6 pm Network News bulletins on TV One from 1988 until 19 December 2003, with co-anchor Judy Bailey
. He was dropped from weekday news for six weeks in 1999, presenting weekend bulletins alongside Liz Gunn while Judy Bailey and John Hawkesby
fronted the weekday bulletins, before TVNZ responded to public pressure and returned him the weekday spot alongside Bailey on 1 March 1999.
During his career at TVNZ he covered the Aramoana massacre
in 1990, reporting live from the township, and with Bailey presented the memorial service for yachtsman Peter Blake
in 2001. Long and Bailey were presenters of the year at the 2001 Qantas broadcasting awards.
TVNZ announced it would not renew Long's contract on 22 October 2003, with head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston
enacting cost cutting measures and stating a desire to have a single newsreader format. He had an emotional departure on his last day, including an on-air send-off and an honour guard of TVNZ staff.
In 2007, Long provided voice-overs in Hanover Finance
advertisements; the Commerce Commission
investigated the commercials in 2008 for misleading statements.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
broadcaster, initially with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC)
Public broadcasting in New Zealand
For information on public broadcasting in New Zealand, see:* New Zealand On Air, funding body* Television in New Zealand** Television New Zealand** Māori Television* List of radio stations in New Zealand** Radio New Zealand...
, subsequently with Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
(TVNZ). He co-hosted the 6 pm Network News bulletins on TV One from 1988 until 19 December 2003, with co-anchor Judy Bailey
Judy Bailey
Judy Ann Bailey ONZM is a former news presenter for ONE News, the highest rated evening television news programme in New Zealand. She has been called the "Mother of the Nation"....
. He was dropped from weekday news for six weeks in 1999, presenting weekend bulletins alongside Liz Gunn while Judy Bailey and John Hawkesby
John Hawkesby
John Langley Hawkesby, MNZM is a former news presenter for ONE News and 3 News in New Zealand.J Hawkesby attended Auckland Grammar School in 1964. His started his broadcasting career in 1972 when he researched and presented Radio New Zealand's "Reflecting On" programme. This programme achieved six...
fronted the weekday bulletins, before TVNZ responded to public pressure and returned him the weekday spot alongside Bailey on 1 March 1999.
During his career at TVNZ he covered the Aramoana massacre
Aramoana massacre
The Aramoana massacre was a mass murder that occurred on 13 November 1990 in the small seaside township of Aramoana, New Zealand. Resident David Gray, a 33-year-old unemployed man, began indiscriminately shooting people in the township with a scoped semi-automatic rifle, after a verbal dispute with...
in 1990, reporting live from the township, and with Bailey presented the memorial service for yachtsman Peter Blake
Peter Blake (yachtsman)
Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
in 2001. Long and Bailey were presenters of the year at the 2001 Qantas broadcasting awards.
TVNZ announced it would not renew Long's contract on 22 October 2003, with head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston
Bill Ralston
Bill Ralston is a New Zealand journalist, broadcaster, and media personality, active in television, radio and print. He has worked as a political correspondent, fronted the television arts show Backch@t, and was the head of news and current affairs at TVNZ from 2003 to 2007...
enacting cost cutting measures and stating a desire to have a single newsreader format. He had an emotional departure on his last day, including an on-air send-off and an honour guard of TVNZ staff.
In 2007, Long provided voice-overs in Hanover Finance
Mark Hotchin
Mark Stephen Hotchin is a New Zealand property developer and financier. He was a director of the Hanover Group which owned a number of finance companies including Hanover Finance, United Finance, Nationwide Finance and FAI Finance...
advertisements; the Commerce Commission
Commerce Commission
The Commerce Commission is a New Zealand government agency charged with enforcing legislation that promotes competition in the country's markets and prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct by traders...
investigated the commercials in 2008 for misleading statements.