“I either failed or proved myself. It’s that imposter syndrome – TV people tend to suffer from either that – or preposterous syndrome, where their self-belief is all out of whack with their lack of talent.”
For a man who has been beaming into New Zealand’s living rooms at 6pm for two decades – and for the final time on Friday – fame sits entirely uncomfortably with Dallow.
Newsreaders Simon Dallow (left) and Wendy Petrie pictured in early 2006 preparing themselves for their first night together presenting TVNZ’s 6pm news. Photo / Martin Sykes
Even at the age of 41 in 2006 – and as he prepared to tackle that first bulletin alongside Wendy Petrie – there was a sense of unease.
“What will I bring to the team? I guess I’m there to consolidate the old audience. I’d like to think I bring intelligence, integrity, perhaps a degree of authority. But you’re asking me to blow my own trumpet, and I’m entirely uncomfortable with that.
“When I trained to be a tour guide, my trainer was concerned I wasn’t outgoing enough. I’m not an extrovert. I’m quite shy. I’m not a performer, so I’m not entirely comfortable with that side of the job.
“You keep as much of your life as possible private.”
‘Here is the news … now let me get out of the way’
America’s greatest newsreader, Walter Cronkite, once said: “Our job is only to hold up the mirror – to tell and show the public what has happened.”
It is a mantra that Dallow has tried to live by.
“A number of years back, I reflected on the role of newsreader in the modern environment and made a couple of commitments around that,” he told me in 2023, in an articulate refusal to be interviewed.
“As a viewer, I want to see and hear unbiased, dispassionate information that is not influenced or coloured in any way by the presenter; leaving the viewer truly free to make up their own mind.
“A newsreader’s role is essentially functional and to me is fundamentally different from the role of a presenter in almost every other sense. Overlaying celebrity on to it changes the parasocial relationship from neutral to one influenced by preference – and thus plays a subconscious role in influencing the viewer’s perspective.
Outgoing TVNZ newsreader Simon Dallow.
“Other presenter roles exist to enhance core material by adding personality, experience and opinion to the core material; with news, the content is inarguably the star of the show.
“Ideally, I’m barely noticed. I see my role as presenting that information as free as possible from any form of bias; and conversationally so the presentation is natural and relaxed, without distraction, thus maximising independent processing. Here is the news … now let me get out of the way.
“It’s not an approach that builds a media career – that’s based on maximising the parasocial relationship, often through publicity – but it is one that reflects my principles and beliefs, especially in what I see as a public service role.”
From a ‘nasty’ letter to ratings dominance
Behind the scenes, Dallow has been an influential – and popular – figure at TVNZ.
But even in negotiations for the job back in 2005, there were reports that he wanted to ensure he had some degree of involvement in the 6pm bulletin’s presentation and content.
These days, 1News at Six’s linear TV bulletin has been generating reach between 750,000-860,000 people a night (with streaming numbers added, TVNZ says that soars past a total of one million). It has pulled well clear of the TV3 (ThreeNews) bulletin, especially since the demise of Newshub.
But for a long period, the race – especially in specific household shopping demographics – was tight.
Early on, there was considerable public interest in the new pairing of Dallow and Petrie, who had taken over the newsreading mantle from “mother of the nation” Judy Bailey.
Judy Bailey was known as “the mother of the nation” to many viewers.
It wasn’t an easy start. Nine months into the role, in 2006, Dallow spoke on his Viva morning radio show about the struggles and pressures at TVNZ.
He said he was sick of the company being the “whipping boy” of other media.
“I just feel the weight of pressure from what seems like an avalanche of criticism that Wendy and I and 1News have been facing recently,” he told his radio listeners.
His comments were sparked by a “nasty and vituperative” letter in the NZ Herald.
The letter from a Titirangi reader described him and Petrie as “Stepford Muppets” who hosted the news and then “popped up in the evening in ridiculous advertisements”.
Simon Dallow signs off from the 6pm news tonight. Photos / TVNZ, Phil Welch
One of Dallow’s radio listeners wrote in an email that the TVNZ opinion polls he and Petrie fronted during the bulletin were not news and “when I watch the news, I want news”.
Dallow said she made a “really valid point” and added that marketing campaigns “were not something we drive”.
“We have to face and present them, but at the same time, I’m not certain either.”
Dallow said at the time that a number of issues had arisen with what was potentially wrong with 1News, which – at that time – was in a heated ratings battle with TV3.
Dallow said he wanted “more news and less fluff in almost every respect, and that’s on both channels”.
“I think these are issues that we are identifying and have identified as well, and of course, you will realise that as the presenter of 1News, I don’t actually have say over much of how the news is put together.”
Dallow said he realised that with being in the public eye, he needed to be thicker-skinned.
“The thing is, though, that despite what you may believe, we don’t receive much praise or supportive commentary … It’s not a world of glamour that it might well be portrayed as, and it’s not full of people sucking up to us.”
After he came off the radio that day, he told the Herald that reading the news was a privilege.
The promos were arguably questionable, but he was not making any criticism of TVNZ or its approach. “I am not about to bite the hand that feeds me.”
Picture gallery: Simon Dallow through the years
Image 1 of 16: Simon Dallow will step down from his long-running role as 1News weekday newsreader on Friday evening. Photo / File
A final sign-off
Friday marked Dallow’s final 6pm bulletin – he was farewelled in the presence of some well-known faces, and with a special tribute at the end of the news. He thanked viewers before leaving the desk for the final time, to celebrate with friends and colleagues in the TVNZ newsroom.
“Simon Dallow has been a trusted companion for so many New Zealanders, through some of the biggest events in this country’s history,” TVNZ news executive editor Phil O’Sullivan told Media Insider in a statement.
That includes events such as the Christchurch earthquakes, the Christchurch mosque shootings, the Whakaari White Island eruption and numerous elections.
“We’ve been so fortunate at 1News to be graced with Simon’s professionalism and gravitas for so long. He’s been our anchor in more ways than one. Today’s a sad day, but Simon’s going out on his own terms and after a career to be immensely proud of. We wish him all the very best.”
1News at Six executive producer Tati Urale added: “Today we salute Simon Dallow, the mighty tōtara of 1News. Alofa atu.”
Dallow trained as a lawyer before moving to London to further his legal chops but the 1987 sharemarket crash pushed him into a career pivot. He spent several years as a package tour guide for 18- to 35-year-olds in Europe – a role where he met his future wife, Alison Mau.
Simon Dallow, in one of his earliest publicity photos at TVNZ, from 1996.
The pair, who have two children, Paris and Joel Dallow, separated in 2009. Dallow, by all accounts, is very keen for more travel, including spending more time with his now adult children, who both live in Australia.
Dallow has a long-time partner, Louise Colenbrander, a client solutions director at NZME.
Dallow started in TV with no journalism training, working on the late-night programme Newsnight, initially alongside Marcus Lush and Lorelei Mason. Soon after it launched, Mau took over from Mason.
The original hosts of Newsnight (from left) – Simon Dallow, Lorelei Mason and Marcus Lush.
“I started on Newsnight,“ Dallow told the Herald in 2006.
“I’d gone in to [production company] Communicado to drop some keys off to Ali and this cameraman walked past and said, ‘Are you here for the audition?’
“I said no, but two minutes later he came up and said, ‘someone hasn’t shown up, just come down and have a go’.
“I went down, and I sat next to Penelope Barr and I had to say the line ‘Boris Yeltsin launches attacks with a nuclear strike on Luxembourg’. Two days later, I had the job.”
He said his “extensive” newsreading consisted of two pieces of advice.
“I was told to emphasise proper nouns and read as quickly as possible. I don’t think anyone realised how quickly I could read; it was a bit of a garbled mess.
“My first week on air was acutely embarrassing. In fact, I’ve been on air 12 years and I think for the first nine years not one positive thing was written about me.
“But I am my own harshest critic. So as difficult as the barbs can be, I’ve probably thought worse.”
On Friday, the tributes flowed as Dallow signed off, “Good night and good luck”.
And true to his word, he didn’t want to comment publicly for this piece. “The straight newsreader to the very end,” a TVNZ spokeswoman said.
Wendy Petrie’s new business venture
While Simon Dallow signs off, his long-time TVNZ partner-in-prime, Wendy Petrie, is embarking on a new business venture herself.
Petrie continues to be a regular voice and face in media – while she left her fulltime role at TVNZ in 2020, she continues to make regular appearances as a guest presenter of the 6pm news, or Breakfast. She is also a fill-in newsreader for Newstalk ZB, a podcaster and is on the MC circuit as well.
Wendy Petrie and husband Ross Peebles.
Now she and her husband Ross Peebles have acquired their own business – a Speedy Signs Albany franchise on Auckland’s North Shore.
Peebles resigned from TVNZ in September as TVNZ’s executive producer of cricket.
“We’ve been looking for our own business for well over a year, so this is a really exciting next step. It’s a signage and branding business operating for more than 23 years,” Petrie said.
“For us, it’s a chance to build something of our own and one month in, we are loving the challenge. It’s funnily enough similar to TV – creativity, telling a story and working with great people.”
Peebles is front of house and Petrie is working in the business.
“I’ve always loved storytelling, visuals and a healthy dose of hard work, so the signage and branding industry had huge appeal. And I still get to say ‘That’s a wrap!’ here too,” said Peebles, who has worked in television for 30 years.
“It’s big and brave but also exciting,” Petrie said of the change in direction.
Merger confirmed: Ad agency staff await fate
It’s an uncertain time for the many staff working at Kiwi advertising agencies that fall under the umbrella of global agencies Omnicom (OMG) and Interpublic (IPG).
The marriage of the two global giants was officially sealed yesterday, paving the way for consolidation across the world, including here in New Zealand.
The OMG-IPG merger (the new company retains the name Omnicom but with the initials OMC) has formed the world’s biggest advertising holding company, surpassing Publicis and WPP.
OMC has made no secret of the estimated cost savings – up to NZ$1.22 billion globally – including reduced roles.
In New Zealand, major OMG brands such as PHD, OMD, Colenso, DDB, Clemenger, TBWA, Hearts & Science and Dynamo are now housed under the same umbrella as IPG agencies such as FCB and Initiative.
There have already been various high-profile changes and departures at some of these agencies, locally, in recent weeks – but immediate attention will now focus on the future of the DDB creative brand.
It is a powerhouse locally, but struggling internationally, and there are strong indications the brand will become one of the first casualties of the merger.
DDB Aotearoa has been responsible for some of our biggest and best-known advertising campaigns, including creative work for McDonald’s, Vogel’s, Samsung and ANZ.
It also created Lotto’s Powerball ad, featuring a naked skier – one of this year’s most-complained-about commercials.
Lotto’s naked skier advertisement has drawn plenty of heat.
DDB Aotearoa has also unleashed on the world some of New Zealand’s most talented creative directors.
Trade website produ.com earlier reported that the OMG-IPG merger included a “historic” decision – “the dissolution of the DDB network, one of the most influential brands in the history of modern creative advertising”.
It said the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had approved the merger around three core global agencies: BBDO Worldwide, McCann and TBWA\Worldwide.
“This integration will directly impact regional operations, leadership structures, and the brand identity of several historic agencies across the globe.”
In response to specific questions about DDB Aotearoa yesterday, including the suggestion it might be rebranded McCann, alongside FCB creative, an OMC New Zealand spokeswoman said: “While the [OMG-IPG] transaction has now formally completed, we have not yet made any announcements regarding our future brand structure or ways of working.
“At this stage, no final decisions on brand architecture, naming, or team structure have been communicated internally, so we are not in a position to comment on speculation.
“Once plans are confirmed, our priority will be to communicate them directly to our teams and to our clients before sharing information publicly.
“Our commitment remains the same, which is to create the strongest possible offering for our clients and to support our people through this transition. We will share more detail as soon as we are able.”
Omnicom chair and chief executive John Wren called the merger a “defining moment for our company and our industry”.
“With the completion of the deal, Omnicom is setting a new standard for modern marketing and sales leadership – creating stronger brands, delivering superior business outcomes, and driving sustainable growth. We’re excited about this next chapter. I want to thank our people, clients, and shareholders for the trust they have placed in us.”
A new name in the Breakfast scramble
Rebecca Wright and her partner Andrew Gourdie pictured at the Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day at Ellerslie Racecourse earlier this year.
Former TV3 presenter Rebecca Wright is the latest name to be raised as the new host of TVNZ’s Breakfast.
She joins Tova O’Brien and Melissa Chan-Green as front-runners to replace Jenny-May Clarkson.
Last week, we also had Lloyd Burr in the picture ,but he looks increasingly like a leading contender to be the new host of RNZ’s Morning Report, replacing Corin Dann.
Smokescreen: All Black v Wales TV picture
What the hell were the Welsh thinking, letting off fireworks in a roofed stadium before last weekend’s test match featuring the All Blacks?
The residue smoke – which took ages to clear in an indoor arena – played havoc with the digital advertising and quality of the TV picture that was beamed back to New Zealanders’ screens.
Players looked like holograms for the first 20 or so minutes of the test.
Smoke and digital technology do not mix. Photo / Sky Sport
“Yes, there was a temporary issue with the virtual graphics at the start of the All Blacks v Wales test on the weekend,” a Sky TV spokeswoman said.
“The lingering smoke from the opening fireworks in the indoor stadium caused the virtual logos to appear overly bright against the field and players – an issue completely outside Sky’s control.
“Our team immediately contacted the host broadcaster, but the only solution was to wait for the smoke to clear. We have, of course, raised this with our international partners to prevent it happening again.”
Three News changes
Expect some format tweaks and personnel changes to the ThreeNews bulletin as we hit 2026.
Already hit with the departures of its widely respected executive producer Claire Watson and weather presenter Laura Tupou to TVNZ, the bulletin has struggled to make inroads into the more heavily resourced TVNZ machine.
The bulletin is produced by Stuff, under contract to Sky TV-owned Three.
Three News newsreader Samantha Hayes (left) and 1News newsreader Simon Dallow at an All Blacks test at Eden Park.
Sky TV chief executive Sophie Moloney was asked by a shareholder at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting last week whether she was considering improving the bulletin, particularly at weekends.
“We know the importance and understand the importance of ThreeNews,” Moloney told the meeting.
“We can see it in the ratings, and absolutely it’s in focus for Juliet [Juliet Petersen, chief business officer] and the team.
“We do need to get through the integration [of Sky and Three]. We are very appreciative that it’s an election year next year, and we will be very keen to make sure that the news offering is what New Zealanders deserve.
“So there will be more in that space. I just can’t comment further right now.”
Sky TV chief executive Sophie Moloney. Photo / NZME
A Sky spokeswoman said this week that Sky and Stuff were in “regular conversation about how the show can continue to evolve to meet audience needs”.
“Recent viewer insights, for example, have shown an appetite for longer-form, more in-depth stories and analysis within the bulletin, so we’re currently testing and trialling different ways to deliver this.”
Both TVNZ and Sky have provided Nielsen ratings (age 5+) for their respective 6pm news bulletins for the period of November 3-16.
1News at Six delivered an average audience of 542,700 and an average daily reach of 781,000 per episode.
ThreeNews delivered an average audience of 135,500 and an average daily reach of 225,014 per episode.
“We’re pleased with the performance of ThreeNews and have seen sustained improvement and growth in share, for those who are watching broadcast TV,” said the Sky spokeswoman.
“While traditional TV audiences are naturally declining, our focus is on making sure people can enjoy our content wherever and whenever they want, which is why we’re investing in Three Now, and it’s paying off – we’ve seen 14 consecutive quarters of growth on the platform as more viewers make the shift to digital.”
So long, Dave
One of Stuff’s most experienced reporters, Dave Long, has resigned to become the principal media adviser to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. The veteran reporter, who has also been a union rep for the Stuff newsroom, says he’s excited about the new move.
Prinz communicator of the year
Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas has been awarded communicator of the year by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (Prinz).
The award sets out to recognise a person outside the public relations industry who has demonstrated excellent communication.
Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas is this year’s Prinz communicator of the year.
Knoff-Thomas was a finalist alongside Boring Oat Milk founder Morgan Maw and Meredith Connell litigation partner Nathan Speir. Prinz members voted on a winner.
Knoff-Thomas was originally nominated by One Plus One Communications boss Kelly Bennett, who highlighted his “strategic fluency, credible transparency and respect for the fourth estate”.
“As CEO, Knoff-Thomas advocates for local businesses, regularly meeting with ministers to ensure their perspectives are heard. He has contributed to the design and rollout of the Escape Hide Tell campaign, which educates the public on actions to take during an armed offender attack in a public place,” according to a Prinz statement.
“He has built strong communications channels for his community, such as the Newmarket magazine, the Newmarket Vox podcast and his regular appearances on RNZ’s The Panel.”
The nomination also raised an apology that Knoff-Thomas had received from the NZ Herald earlier this year following the accidental juxtaposition of his photo with a headline in an article in which he was quoted. The nomination praised the way Knoff-Thomas handled the matter.
In case you missed it
As always, a lively week in the media world:
MONDAY: One of New Zealand’s most successful private businessmen – and owner of Whitcoulls – has stepped, reluctantly, into a row over a banned literary journal from the Kiwi retailer’s bookshelves. He says the liberal use of the “C-word” has led to the ban of Folly from Whitcoulls’ shelves. Read the full story here.
TUESDAY: A guest at the New Zealand film and television industry’s most glamorous night of the year was arrested by police and has been trespassed from the venue following a sequence of events, including concerns over the way he touched two female hospitality workers. Read the full story here.
WEDNESDAY: An Auckland businesswoman and former Real Housewives of Auckland TV star is consulting lawyers after what she calls a defamatory email was sent to clients by the editor of a local lifestyle magazine and – seemingly until now – one of her best friends. Read the full story here.
THURSDAY: KFC has removed a contentious advertising campaign featuring a “creepy” hacker wearing a Colonel Sanders mask. The removal of the campaign has headed off an Advertising Standards Authority investigation into whether it breached advertising rules, after the commercials became one of the most-complained-about campaigns this year. Read the full story here.
THURSDAY: Newstalk ZB has finished the year as the country’s leading commercial radio station, for the 17th year in a row, while The Breeze is New Zealand’s top music station. Both NZME and MediaWorks will take heart from the performance of several of their stations in the latest GFK radio ratings. Read the full story here.
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.