RNZ Premieres New Multi-media Current Affairs Interview Programme: 30 With Guyon Espiner

Friday, 12 April 2024, 1:24 pm
Press Release: RNZ

RNZ launches a brand new, video-led current affairs interview programme fronted by award-winning journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner on Wednesday 17 April. Each episode focuses on just one guest and the show is unedited.

30 with Guyon Espiner will premiere as a video across 10 weekly episodes, be released the next day as a podcast, and broadcast on RNZ National on Sundays at 5:10pm. It has been made for on-demand TV viewers at the Whaakata Māori studios and will feature on TVNZ+, YouTube, rnz.co.nz and social media platforms.

The programme was conceived by Espiner and RNZ’s In Depth team, created by the former executive producer of The Project, Ali Ventura, and is fully funded by RNZ.

In episode one, Espiner explores a range of topics in a thought-provoking and revealing discussion with community leader Dave Letele. Known for his BBM Motivation programme, Letele details darker aspects of his personal and family history, holds forth on the big social and political issues Aotearoa faces – and reveals a surprising update on his dealings with the coalition government.

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Other confirmed guests include AI expert Nina Schick, globalist Peter Zeihan, film director Roseanne Liang, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams and political leaders from across the spectrum.

30 with Guyon Espiner will meet the well-established local audience demand for long form interviews with interesting people sharing interesting ideas. It launches at an important moment for current affairs in New Zealand, and represents RNZ’s commitment to innovation in the format.

“This is a truly multi-platform programme, standing on its own merit as a high-quality video, podcast and radio show,” says RNZ Executive Editor (In Depth) John Hartevelt.

“It delivers to audiences on all platforms in a format that meets their expectations,” Hartevelt said.

“It fills a ‘richness’ gap New Zealand feels now more than ever, with highly crafted, well-researched interviews generating a compelling 30 minutes of content. It will surprise, inform, challenge and make people laugh.”

For Espiner, the hook for the new project is the unedited format – what you see is what you get.

“At the start of each interview the 30-minute countdown clock begins we’ll broadcast the full conversation unedited. I think that’s a real plus at a time when trust in media continues to decline – we’re publishing the whole interview so audiences can see and hear everything the guest said.

“Having one guest on for the full show will let us go beyond a few quick questions and answers into in-depth storytelling, which I think will be fascinating. We’re going for a broad range of guests – politics, science, the arts – so there should be something for everyone.”

30 with Guyon Espiner is available weekly to watch on rnz.co.nz/guyon, TVNZ+ and YouTube on Wednesdays, as audio on podcast platforms on Thursdays and every Sunday on RNZ National.

Bios

Guyon Espiner - Presenter/Researcher

Guyon Espiner has been a journalist in print, television and radio for 30 years, including 14 years covering politics from the press gallery in Wellington.

After working with both TVNZ and TV3 he moved to radio in 2014, presenting RNZ National’s Morning Report for five years.

Espiner has produced three major podcasts, The Ninth Floor, The Service and Red Line and two recent TV documentaries for RNZ, focusing on alcohol and drug policy: Proof and Wasted, both of which screened on TVNZ.

He currently works as a presenter and investigative journalist for RNZ and is the author of a new book: The Drinking Game.

Ali Ventura - Executive Producer

Ali Ventura has been a broadcast journalist for more than a decade, working in news and current affairs for One News, RNZ, and Three.

After starting out as a reporter, Ali became a producer for a range of news shows. She covered countless stories and events, including producing live broadcasts from Christchurch following the mosque terror attacks, rolling coverage of the Port Hills fire, and a news special on the 2016 US election.

In 2020, she moved to The Project where she covered two elections, the covid pandemic and delivered a show entirely in te reo Māori. Now she’s back with RNZ, producing a brand new, multi-platform show.

Production credits:

Presenter / Researcher Guyon Espiner
Executive Producer Ali Ventura
Producer Richard Larsen
Post-Production Manager Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Audio Operator Blair Stagpoole
Graphic Design Jayne Joyce
Motion and Sound Design Tom Crampin
Operations Manager Jamie Annan
Studio Director Zantana Raerino-Bell

Recorded at Whakaata Māori studios

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.