John Langley Hawkesby (born 1947) is a former news presenter for ONE News and THREE News in New Zealand. John Hawkesby MNZM investiture

Hawkesby attended

Auckland Grammar School Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

in 1964. His started his broadcasting career in 1972 when he researched and presented Radio New Zealand's Christian oriented "Reflecting On" programme. This programme achieved six Mobil Radio Awards for "Excellence in Broadcasting". In 1986 Hawkesby moved to Radio Hauraki and read the breakfast news. In 1977 he joined TV2 as newsreader and in 1981 presented the top rating ''Top Half'' regional news programme for TVNZ. Hawkesby went on to host the popular '' It's in the Bag'' programme with co-host Hilary Timmins. In 1992 Hawkesby moved to TV3 as newsreader and in 1995 and 1996 was voted ''TV Guides People's Choice "Best Presenter", and "Best Newsreader". On 16 February 1998, Hawkesby left TV3 after the introduction of a co-anchor. He was due to start presenting alongside

Carol Hirschfeld Carol Ann Hirschfeld (born 1962) is a New Zealand journalist, documentary maker, broadcaster, producer and media executive. She is best known for her role as a TV3 News presenter alongside John Campbell from 1998 until 2005. As a broadcast media ...

, but after pulling out at the last moment, John Campbell filled his place. For 3 weeks in January–February 1999, in a controversial move, Hawkesby became a weekday newsreader for ONE News, replacing Richard Long (who moved to presenting weekend bulletins alongside

Liz Gunn Elizabeth Jane Cooney, commonly known as Liz Gunn (born ), is an anti-vaccination activist and a former television presenter from New Zealand. Broadcasting career Gunn was a litigation lawyer before beginning her TV career on the TVNZ show '' Su ...

). TVNZ's reason for this change was to try and capture some of the chemistry that Bailey and Hawkesby had during their days presenting ''Top Half''. The change was short-lived, Long returned to the weekday bulletins, presenting alongside Bailey and Hawkesby received a $5.2m payout. In 2005 the highest paid New Zealand newsreaders received $800,000pa. John is the father of former TVNZ broadcaster

Kate Hawkesby Kate Hawkesby (born April 1st, 1973) is a New Zealand radio announcer and television presenter who currently works as the 'Early Edition' presenter (weekdays from 5am) for Newstalk ZB. While working as a reporter, presenter and news reader for ...

, and is the father-in-law of fellow broadcaster

Mike Hosking Michael Noel James Hosking IV is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster who has worked for Radio New Zealand and TVNZ and from 2008 has been the weekday breakfast host on Newstalk ZB with "The Mike Hosking Breakfast". He is a supporter ...

. In August 1997, Hawkesby published "Save The Last Dance For Me". Since leaving the broadcasting industry, Hawkesby has been active in the

New Zealand wine New Zealand wine is produced in several of its distinct winegrowing regions. As an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand has a largely maritime climate, although its elongated geography produces considerable regional variation f ...

scene as a judge and reviewer. In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to broadcasting and the community.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkesby, John 1947 births Living people Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand television newsreaders and news presenters People educated at Auckland Grammar School New Zealand game show hosts

See also

References