Simon Dallow delivers his final TVNZ 6pm news bulletin tonight, after 16 years at the helm of 1News at Six. Video / TVNZ
A characteristically professional Simon Dallow delivered his final TVNZ 6pm news bulletin tonight, after 16 years at the helm of 1News at Six.
Signing off, the newsreader, 61, whose voice began to crack, thanked long-time viewers, saying, “It’s time for me to say farewell and sign off for my last1News bulletin.
“I’ve always firmly believed news readers should no longer be the news, so now I am no longer one, so that means I can say it has been a genuine privilege to be on your screens and in your living rooms.
“Thank you for letting me be a small part of your evenings,” he said with his voice cracking.
Simon Dallow signed off on his final show as the 6pm 1News newsreader.
“To you and your loved ones, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a sunny summer ahead. Pō mārie. Good night and good luck.”
The 61-year-old’s highlight reel covering his 30-year career included clips from the 2021 America’s Cup, the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
An emotional Dallow, draped in wreaths of lollies, was escorted through a clapping newsroom to a waiata and haka performed in his honour.
Dallow was met by a newsroom guard of honour, who performed a waiata and haka to farewell him.
Dallow began hosting duties in 2006, when he and Wendy Petrie jointly replaced “mother of the nation” Judy Bailey. In July 2020 the bulletin moved to a single newsreader for weekday programmes with Dallow as the host.
Originally a lawyer, Dallow began his TVNZ career in 1993, working on TV 2’s late-night programme Newsnight.
Beyond fronting the nightly news, Dallow has also presented TVNZ’s Rugby World Cup coverage, current affairs show Agenda and historical series What Lies Beneath.
The journalist is father to two adult children, parented with his former wife, journalist Alison Mau.
Image 1 of 16: Simon Dallow will step down from his long-running role as 1News weekday newsreader on Friday evening. Photo / File
“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.
“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.”
At the beginning of November, the state broadcaster announced that Melissa Stokes will move from her weekend presenting role to anchor the broadcaster’s main bulletin on weekdays.
