That’s no slight on Dann – he has constantly shown his class as a broadcaster, including in a recent interview with NZ First leader Winston Peters, who took exception to Dann’s line of questioning and even raised the prospect of reducing RNZ’s public funding.
Morning Report hosts Corin Dann and Ingrid Hipkiss. Photos / RNZ
But the overall presentation, packaging and even location of Morning Report have been in the spotlight and were the subject of some pointed comments in a recent independent review by Richard Sutherland.
Dann is Wellington-based, along with most of the Morning Report production team, while co-host Ingrid Hipkiss is based in Auckland.
Sutherland’s review had already recommended at least one new high-profile hire “to signal ambition” – he did not refer to any particular show, but the opportunity is now there for the flagship 6am-9am slot.
His report did say Morning Report should be fully relocated to Auckland, to “counter perceptions of Wellington bias”.
“Producing the programme from Wellington creates editorial distance from the wider audience and reinforces the feeling of political insulation and dependence on government.”
Possible candidates
So who are the frontrunners to replace Dann?
Given Newstalk ZB’s biggest news broadcasters – Mike Hosking, Heather Du Plessis-Allan, Ryan Bridge and Jack Tame – are locked away in what are believed to be multi-year deals, RNZ will have to look further afield than its main commercial radio competitor.
TVNZ chief correspondent John Campbell. Photo / Greg Bowker
Top of the list, surely, are two of the biggest personalities in New Zealand media – John Campbell and Patrick Gower.
Poaching Campbell from TVNZ would be a good story arc – Keane was Campbell’s executive producer on TV3’s Campbell Live and then RNZ’s Checkpoint show for many years; the pair have a strong rapport and working relationship.
As a former host of Checkpoint, Campbell knows RNZ reasonably intimately – he also started his broadcasting career there in 1989.
Like Campbell, Gower has also had RNZ experience – he filled in alongside Alexa Cook as Morning Report host for two weeks last summer, and he’s appeared during holiday weekends.
Broadcasters Jack Tame, Rebecca Wright, Patrick Gower and Tova O’Brien. Photos / Michael Craig, Dean Purcell, Greg Bowker, VMANZ
Gower appeals to a potentially entirely new listening audience for RNZ – the biggest challenge would be luring him away from his current portfolio of broadcasting roles, which he clearly loves and thrives upon.
Also near the top of the list, in my view, are current RNZ Checkpoint host Lisa Owen and former TV3 political editor Tova O’Brien, now at Stuff.
Both are brilliant interviewers and would be especially strong candidates ahead of the 2026 general election.
Rachel Smalley and Andrew Dickens have shown their smarts at Newstalk ZB – while Smalley is now working in the corporate world, she appears to have lost none of her passion for media.
Dickens is in a versatile role at ZB, showcasing his skills as a broadcaster and interviewer on both news and talk shows.
RNZ Nights host Emile Donovan is likely to be considered very closely by the public broadcaster’s bosses – he is a superstar in the making.
Emile Donovan presents RNZ Nights. Photo / RNZ
Duncan Garner, Lloyd Burr and Mark Richardson would all bring more personality to RNZ, and perhaps balance up the perception, in some quarters, that the station has a good many left-of-centre hosts.
Rebecca Wright and Stacey Morrison are two more highly experienced and talented broadcasters with strong personalities, and should not be ruled out.
Ultimately, whoever wins the race for the Morning Report microphone will need to bring pace and a stronger sense of urgency, according to multiple sources.
As one experienced broadcaster said to me after the release of the Sutherland review: “Richard has just suggested basic radio philosophy that RNZ forgot in its desire to social engineer rather than reflect the population.
“They need to get faster and more relatable with more content. All their bits are far too long and often disappear up the reporter’s arse.”
The broadcaster said Hosking’s great advantage was the sheer volume of information he conveyed each morning. “The editorials help, but it’s the feeling that if you give Mike 30 minutes, he’ll give you the world.”
Dann’s departure
In a statement provided by RNZ today, Dann said leaving Morning Report was a difficult decision.
He will take over as business editor from Gyles Beckford, who is becoming a part-time economics correspondent.
“A substantial amount of my career has been spent reporting on our economy and it feels like a very important time to get this right with the pressure that everyone is feeling, businesses and employees alike,” said Dann.
“I’ve always said that Morning Report is the best broadcasting gig in the country and I’ve felt privileged to have this role, but you do have to seize opportunities when they arise and business reporting is something I’m passionate about.”
RNZ chief news officer Mark Stevens said: “Corin’s maturity in broadcasting has really shone through in Morning Report. But, at the same time, he’s also embraced modern multimedia storytelling, filming content for social media, developing podcasts and delivering video series.”
Stevens said he was grateful for Dann’s commitment to the show while a replacement was found. Recruitment for a new presenter would start immediately.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.