Genevieve Westcott has been hailed a trailblazer in journalism in New Zealand. Photo / File
Genevieve Westcott has been hailed a trailblazer in journalism in New Zealand. Photo / File
One of the country's most well-known faces on television current affairs and considered a trailblazer in journalism has died.
Genevieve Westcott, former journalist and television presenter, was hugely popular and a well-known face on New Zealand screens in the 1980s and 1990s.
She died this morning after a battle withbreast cancer - a disease she had beaten a few years ago. She was 65.
Close friend and former colleague, Herald reporter Carolyne Meng-Yee, paid tribute to a woman who was highly regarded within the media industry - and known for being an overall kind person who carried out her job with empathy.
Kiwi cameraman, Ross "Roscoe" Kenward, working there at the time would eventually become her husband and the couple moved to New Zealand. He died in 2014.
Broadcaster Genevieve Westcott pictured at her home in Castor Bay, Auckland, in 2014. Photo / Brett Phibbs
In New Zealand, Westcott's Canadian twang was often mistaken for an American accent - something she did not like, Meng-Yee said - and her often big but immaculate hairstyle made her easily recognisable by the public.
She reported and anchored for some of New Zealand's top current affairs programmes, including TV3's A Current Affair, 60 Minutes, 20/20 and TVNZ's Eyewitness News.
She also did radio work on Newstalk ZB.
During a career that spanned more than 20 years, Westcott won several accolades and awards for journalistic excellence; including for Best Television Current Affairs and Best Television Investigative Reporting.
She also brought home international media awards including from the New York Film and Television Festival and from her homeland.
'A brave journalist'
Former colleague and media commentator Bill Ralston said Westcott was a "very able journalist, a real character and did some cracking yarns".
"She was tough as old boots and was very brave - as a journalist and brave in her private life."
Later, Westcott hosted real-life disputes show You Be The Judge.
One of its episodes, involving a paternity test to figure out exactly who had fathered a young boy, proved to be controversial with viewers and some commentators.
