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Newshub’s political editor Tova O’Brien’s “unbelievably wild” interview with former Botany MP and Advance NZ co-leader Jami-Lee Ross has garnered international attention.
O’Brien’s interrogation was dubbed an “absolute masterclass” as he questioned Ross the day after the 2020 general election.
There have been a series of heated interviews and political discussions that have made headlines over the years. Here’s a look at some of the most memorable:
TVNZ
The infamous battle between journalist Simon Walker and then-Prime Minister Robert Muldoon was captured on air in the 1970s.
Robert Muldoon vs. Simon Walker
The infamous battle between journalist Simon Walker and then-Prime Minister Robert Muldoon was caught off-air in 1976.
During the interview at the Tonight On the show, Muldoon was increasingly upset that he was being asked questions that were not on his sheet that he had in preparation for the interview.
Finally he got frustrated and joked, “I won’t let a smart interviewer change the rules in half.” The interview ended shortly after the comment.
MEDIAWORKS
John Campbell confronted then-Prime Minister Helen Clark during an interview in 2002, which was later dubbed ‘Corngate’.
Campbell v Clarke in ‘Corngate’
The 2002 interview between journalist John Campbell and then-Prime Minister Helen Clark was concise.
The two came face to face on suspicion of genetically modified corn, and the interview was later dubbed “Corngate.”
Throughout the interview, Clark repeatedly said that he had no warning to answer the questions correctly and calls the interview an ambush and “a trap.” She also later called him a “sanctimonious little creep”.
TVNZ
Reporter Rod Vaughan made a blood-soaked piece for the camera directly after being beaten up by then-NZ Party leader Bob Jones in 1985.
Bob Jones vs. Rod Vaughan
In 1985, TVNZ rented a helicopter and tried to interview New Zealand Party leader Bob Jones, who was fishing near Turangi.
Jones, however, was not amused by the arrival of journalist Rod Vaughan and the camera crew.
He ran towards them through the bushes, told them to “get out of here”, punched Vaughan on the nose and also shoved cameraman Peter Mayo.
Vaughan appeared bloodied in a piece to the camera that he recorded after the attack.
Brook Sabin v Pam Corkery of Internet Mana
Journalist Brook Sabin was called a “little puff …” by former Internet Mana press secretary Pam Corkery during the 2014 election campaign.
MEDIAWORKS
Internet Mana press secretary Pam Corkery berated journalists during the 2014 election campaign.
Corkery infamously rebuked reporters, singling out Sabin, who later worked for TV3.
The comments were made after reporters requested interviews with Kim Dotcom, who had helped form the Internet Mana political party.
The outburst saw Corkery make headlines and also ranked second in the 2014 Listing of the Year competition.
Winston Peters against many people
NZ First frontman Winston Peters has appeared in many concise interviews over the years.
In 2008, he became enraged at journalist Paul Henry while on live television and told him that if he wanted to know how to be a good interviewer, he first needed to learn the facts and stop his fishing expedition. Henry replied by saying that perhaps the focus should be on Peters being “a good interviewee.” Peters went on to advise her to “shut up or shut up, or better yet, how about you apologize?”
Her interview with journalist Kim Hill in 2012 resulted in an argument about dating, while in 2016, Peters jokingly said that Charlotte Ryan “wasn’t that bright” while on live TV. This year, he called TVNZ a “disgrace” during a heated interview with Jack Tame on Q&A.
