Twelve Questions: Best quotes from the year on age

Pebbles Hooper. Photo / Greg Bowker

1. Sir Bob Jones, property magnate
You've been married a lot and had a lot of different partners: how do you charm the women you've been with?

I don't set out to charm women, but I'll tell you one thing - they like laughter, but they don't like pranks. I quite like women and permanent relationships but it never lasts that long. They last about seven or eight years but we all stay great friends and holiday together. I've never understood monogamy. It seems to be unnatural for me. Variety is the spice of life. Blondes. Brunettes. That sort of thing. I've had all sorts of races and that. Girlfriends everywhere. Am I good to them? Of course I am. I'm good to everyone. Absolutely, women keep you young. Having it off all the time does. It's absolutely critical.

2. Pebbles Hooper, gossip columnist
Were you ever rebellious as a teenager?

I had a fake ID and went to town and did that stuff when I was 15 so I suppose I was. Mum knew about it and wasn't happy but was like "as long as I know where she is". But that was about it. I'm by nature a pretty cautious person. My parents wouldn't care what I did now as long as it was something I believed in. The thing that would disappoint them most would be if I became a disloyal or untrustworthy person. I could be a feminist, hippy, left-wing, John Key-hating, never-washing person that lives off the Government and as much as that would make my Dad unhappy, he wouldn't care as long as I was good to people and trustworthy.

3. Steven Joyce, Minister of Everything
Are older dads different do you think?

You're assuming I'm old. I'm younger than I look, I assure you. I don't know about different, but sometimes it's hard for older dads to keep up. You do get the benefits of experience, of course. I'm just glad I am a dad. Should I have done it earlier? Well, that would have been a problem because I hadn't met my wife.

4. Mike Hosking, broadcaster
How would you write your own epitaph?

Well, this would be released after the state funeral and the three days of national mourning, but: "Mike Hosking. Took what he had, used it well, loved the journey and laughed most of the way."

5. Tim Finn, musician
Do you ponder your mortality?

I don't dwell on mortality but it's there every day now. You feel that time is running out and that it's not endless. We're all in a bit of denial, I think, and it's quite a shock to really face it and approach it. It's something that runs along as an undercurrent. Not a morbid feeling, more a deep realisation forced on you by sheer weight of numbers. There are two kinds of people in the world - those of us who are living and those of us who are dying. You can't imagine it until you go into it, I think.

6. Paula Ryan, fashionista
What advice would you give to other women?

I find that women get complacent and bored if they don't have something that's a project. It doesn't matter what it is - playing the piano or charity work or, for me now, it's painting again after a 45-year break. Something that you love to do to maintain fresh personal enthusiasm. Live your life as you want to, not as others expect you to. Accept the ageing process as no woman ever died as a result of having wrinkles. She is more likely to die from worrying about them.

7. Peter Williams, QC
You've had a number of beautiful women in your life - how did you attract them all?

I have had a lot. Well, when I say a lot I mean I've been very lucky. They've all helped me in their own way. I don't regret any of them. I treasure memories of them all. [Partner] Heeni is my strength. She takes wonderful care of me. Cancer is a terrible, degrading thing. If you're not careful you lose any sense of self-value. At present I have little to offer a woman. I've got cancer. I'm 80. I've lost my physical strength. So I'm very lucky to have a good woman.

8. John Rowles, singer
How do you feel about ageing?

I hate it. What age would I like to be? About 44. I remember then I had the energy, the gusto. When I got to 65 everything is a little bit of a struggle. But everyone knows that. I think I'll live a long life, mainly because of my attitude and love of nature. Singers normally live a long life. It's all the breathing we do, exercising your lungs constantly.

9. Russell Brown, writer
You've written about music for many years - is there a danger in being an old pop music fan?

I always call to mind [British writer] Julie Burchill's comment about the inherent sadness of a 40-year-old man enthusing about this week's 7-inch single. That was an incentive to getting out of being a music journalist. But I like it. I still go and see bands. I'm used to being the oldest person in the room at 51. But I'm there to see the music and also for people-watching. I like seeing what's happening. Music is my heritage, the cultural community I grew up with, but it's also the thing that keeps me in touch with the new.

10. Sarah Peirse, actor
How is age treating you?

Very well. The grey hair is great for work. I have good energy. I walk, I meditate, I enjoy company and solitude - they are all strengthening. I find silence extremely necessary. I tried meditation as a child when I was anxious about upcoming exams. I found it again about nine years ago as I was recovering from the end of my marriage. It's been interesting. I love people but I think a capacity to be alone and silent is a very restorative act.

11. Mike Chunn, musician
How do rock stars age?

We're lucky. In my social circle, as youngsters we all wanted to be All Blacks. And we still go quiet when they walk in the room. I recently met Waka Nathan. I went to Howick to pick him up and you could see [rugby] was still an integral part of his life but he can't play it any more. He can't run out on the field. But I can. I can put my bass on and go play ENZSO concerts with Eddie Rayner - we play better than ever in those because we're not trying to play and be rich and be good, we're just trying to be good. Being old and being a musician, there's no downside to it.

12. Bob Harvey, former Waitakere mayor, chairman of Waterfront Auckland
What is the best, and worst, of ageing?

Tomorrow.