The host of Paddy Gower has Issues dishes on his biggest gripes of the moment.
If you look back at Paddy Gower’s extensive career in news and television, there’s almost no issue he hasn’t tackled. Whether it’s weed, booze, P, the pandemic, hate crimes or the royal family, the veteran journalist has never been one to shy away from thorny topics. Because, as he once famously uttered in a viral university law revue sketch, it’s all the fuckin’ news after all.
With over 25 years on our screens, including as Newshub’s 6pm political editor and a regular guest on The Project NZ, Gower has most recently returned as the host of Paddy Gower Has Issues on Three. The weekly current affairs show aims to “not only to shine a massive spotlight on things in this country that are wrong, but to advocate on behalf of Kiwi for concrete change in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Joined by comedian Karen O’Leary, who dives into community and consumer affairs like PayWave fees and parking fines, Gower works alongside a small team of journalists to “investigate and present an issue that demands change” every week, previous seasons have untangled everything from our insurance crisis, to the impact of open plan classrooms, to the exorbitant price of butter.
With a brand new season of Issues airing now on Three, we asked Paddy Gower to share some of his opinions on the world and most value life advice below.
What bothers you most about the world right now?
Feral cats and geopolitics. Poor cancer care. Hot food in the office. Some of these issues I can do stuff about, others I have to accept – like hot food in the office!
What sort of people do you avoid?
I actually can’t avoid people. I probably spend too long talking to people. My whole life is people, people, people. Everybody has something to offer.
What makes you want to get up in the morning?
I like helping people. I like making people happy. Making them laugh. Every day is a chance to do that.
How do you hold onto hope in these crazy times?
This world can be very cruel. I try to be positive and optimistic about everything I do. I’m lucky to work in a job where there is a lot of human connection. Connection is the most beautiful thing, truly human connection will always beat cruelty.
What is the single best quality a human can have?
Be a good listener. Listen to others. Listening is an extremely powerful human quality. Listening leads to empathy. Listening leads to understanding. I reckon a lot of people don’t feel listened to in life. I notice that when I listen to people, I can see them feel empowered.
What’s over-rated?
Booze.
What’s under-rated?
Sobriety! (I’m coming up five years)
If you could have a do-over, what would you change?
A “Paddy do-over”. Serious and practical answer here. Would involve de-stressing life a bit, lowering my (chronically high) cortisol.
What brings you joy?
A lower weekly screen time.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Be like an Octopus.” Winston Peters told me that. I’m still figuring out what he meant.
What advice do you wish you’d never followed?
There’s quite a bit I got from Duncan Garner…
Tell us about a controversial opinion you hold.
I want New Zealand to become a Republic. I’m constantly amazed at how hardly anybody else wants this!
When you’re feeling low, what helps?
Exercise in nature. Ride my bike. Swim in the sea.
In what ways is public-facing Paddy Gower different to private Paddy Gower?
In recent years, I have become very introverted in private. I like doing nothing, and seeing nobody. My social battery gets low, its needs to be recharged.
Give us some life advice.
I have a few favourite sayings:
- “Life is for living, don’t waste it.”
- “Don’t die wondering!!”
- “Believe in the possible.”
