Welcome to episode 64 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys and our brand new sponsor, Le Petite Chocolat – organic and fairtrade craft chocolate from Hastings. Delicious. Check them out…

This conversation is me chatting with journalist and political editor for Newshub (formerly TV3 news) Patrick Gower. Or “Paddy Gower” as he’s known to many. In fact that’s how I was first introduced to him, way back in the mid-90s when we lived in the same hostel and met on our first day of university. I’ve known Gower for over 20 years and watched from the sidelines as he’s climbed Journalism Hill. We were both interested in writing and journalism and both encouraging of each other’s pursuits. He raced ahead, working hard. I bummed around, finding distractions. We’ve remained friends, I’ve remained in awe of his abilities as one of the great everyman-relating orators. He connects with people, earns trust and is loyal. So here we talk about that loyalty, not just in our friendship but in his professional CV. We talk through the long arc of working up through journalism school to cadet reporting, to becoming a senior crime reporter, to freelancing internationally, returning to New Zealand to move into the press gallery and from there to his TV work, first as political reporter, now as political editor.

Paddy has been at the feet of Obama in the White House, holding a boom mic, capturing the story. He was then when Donald Trump, a then rank-outsider, was canvassing and campaigning. He’s been in war-zones, interviewed international leaders, chased down stories from local politicians, met and mingled with dignitaries and chatted with Joe Public on the street.

So we talk about all of this – and his very real passion for delivering the news. We talk to of some of the sadness in his life, and he is frank about how difficult it was to move to TV and be judged, daily, on his looks; how unprepared he was for the online reactions.

Paddy is one of my good friends and I’m proud of his achievements. We don’t get to see each other so much these days, with work and families and life in general…so it was a great pleasure not only to get his story on tape but to sit down and reconnect with one of my good buds; someone I respect and admire on both a personal and professional level.

I hope you enjoy our wide-ranging conversation.

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Day-time visitors to the den get to have tea thanks to T Leaf T or, later in the day, they can have a beer from the wonderful Yeastie Boys. We also have chocolate now for the guests thanks to Le Petite Chocolat. My thanks as always to these great sponsors. If you want to advertise on the podcast or sponsor an episode, or more, please do get in touch.

Please enjoy episode 64 of Sweetman Podcast, my conversation with Patrick Gower.