In The Life and Times of a Brown Paper Bag, the 2010 book that presenter Kevin Milne wrote to mark the end of his long career on Fair Go, he remembers inquiring of then-TVNZ boss Rick Ellis how long he thought the soon-to-be-axed consumer show might last.
“For as long as it rates was his answer. Fair enough. In a perfect world, I suppose I’d love to have read: ‘For as long as it proves a lifeline to Kiwis in need. It’s inextricably part of TVNZ’s brand now, like Country Calendar. We owe it so much.’”
Fair Go began on April 7, 1977. Its present team were hoping they would celebrate a 50th birthday in a few years. But with TVNZ’s proposed gutting of its current affairs offerings, including flagship show Sunday, come May, that’s likely it for Fair Go, the second-longest running show (after Country Calendar) on NZ television.
The show has had 50 or more presenters and reporters in its time. Some, like Milne and his first-generation FG colleagues Brian Edwards, Philip Alpers and Kerre Woodham, became household names from their time on the show. For some, like Kim Hill, Sharon Crosbie, Carol Hirschfeld and Amanda Millar, it was a springboard.
Since the show’s beginnings, many of its stars appeared in the pages of the Listener. Put all those features, profiles and reviews together and you would have a potted history of the show. Well, there’s an idea …
APRIL 1977
Hardheaded interviewer
