Having a good day on the Wiggles set are Green Wiggle Robert Rakete and Guardian contributor Damian Thorne.
Having a good day on the Wiggles set are Green Wiggle Robert Rakete and Guardian contributor Damian Thorne.
Robert Rakete was born and raised in Auckland's Otara. To many of us he was born on television shows such as Pepsi RTR.
Sitting down with him in the Regent on Broadway, I quickly discover this New Zealand personality is also the kind of human being I can comfortably discusspast mental breakdowns with and receive a rare and honest ear of empathy.
Here in Palmy with the sold out Wiggles show Rakete's career started like many of our first jobs - a mother bored with her son lying about the house, insisting he go off to an audition.
Not wanting the job, Rakete smashed the audition and found himself on Pepsi RTR – the weekly hostless music chart show that suddenly found itself lumbered with a host.
While we at home just wanted them to play the music and became annoyed with Rakete's interruptions, like an advert on a YouTube clip, we could not help but notice what a gorgeous head of shoulder-length black hair he possessed, which definitely became Rakete's trademark.
Rakete always dreamed of being a bass guitarist and has finally realised his dream, albeit on stage with the Wiggles.
I briefly cover the controversy around Rakete's shift from brown to green Wiggle. Many major news sites have cried racism and cultural insensitivity but Rakete gives me a Guardian exclusive – all fake news - he simply didn't want to wear brown anymore.
I agree by saying what an awful colour it is, and we chat about people who drive brown cars!
He has had a varied career, with every section involving a challenge, a word he uses five times as we chat. Without a challenge Rakete tells me he wouldn't bother. On the topic of Dancing with the Stars, he adds phrases like gruelling and extremely disappointing. He would drive home from performances talking to his dead mum analysing his work on the dance floor.
Robert Rakete, pictured with dance partner Nicole, found his 2018 appearance on Dancing with the Stars gruelling. Photo / Supplied
If you watch Rakete's interview with B B King it comes across like a chat between friends. I am flattered when he points out that my interviewing technique is similar and that I'm doing a good job.
Rakete had won B B King over by having a full set of equipment ready for them to jam on after the interview – I had won Rakete over with a gift for his gorgeous wife.
Another recent string to Rakete's bow is the children's book, Ernie and the Magic Kennel, which he co-authored with his Breeze radio show co-host Jeanette Thomas. Reprinted four times already, the book gives proceeds to the radio stars' charities. Having purchased three copies I can assure you it is available from Bruce McKenzie Booksellers as stock is replenished.
I do have a bone to pick with Rakete and I save it until our final moments. Years ago, when single, Rakete's best friend Robert Scott (one of Palmy's favourite sons) was trying to find him the right woman. This led to a meeting in Auckland with ex-Palmy beauty queen Nicole Englebretsen.
When Rakete came face to face with Palmy's finest, his Otara sensibilities lined up with Nicole's Highbury smarts, and even though he admits he was punching above his weight, they married and headed to Auckland, leaving Palmy just that little bit less beautiful.
We take a photo in front of a building-size inflatable Wiggles set, which Rakete tells me cleverly deflates into a small box, and I am left feeling like Oprah Winfrey – back when she interviewed the awesome celebrities and gave away cars.
