Dougal Stevenson | |
|---|---|
 Stevenson in 2012 | |
| Born | 1942 (age 80–81) Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Television news anchor, broadcaster, narrator |
| Years active | 1964- |
| Known for | Broadcasting |
John Dougal Stevenson QSM (born 1942) is a former New Zealand television news presenter.
Born in Dunedin in 1942 to a young unmarried mother, [1] Stevenson was adopted out while still a young infant to a family living near Wānaka in Central Otago. His adoptive father was a farmer; his adoptive mother – who died when Dougal was still a young child – was a classically trained musician. After his adoptive mother's death, Stevenson was sent to boarding school, which was – in his own words – "barbaric", followed by high school, which did not interest him. [2]
Stevenson began his broadcasting career in 1964 with the regional Dunedin station DNTV2, and in 1969 was chosen to read the first nationwide news bulletin for the new countrywide television network (on 5 November). He remained as the country's main newsreader on NZBC and its successor (TVNZ)'s early-evening news through much of the 1970s, also presenting the nine o'clock evening news digest Tonight at Nine . Since leaving a regular anchor role, he has appeared as presenter and narrator of many series, his distinctive voice making him a popular choice for documentary work. As Jane Bowron of The Dominion Post once opined "His voice is authoritative. If there is an end-of-the-world broadcast kept in readiness for the final moments on Earth, I hope TVNZ has chosen Dougal to announce it." [3] His reputation within New Zealand broadcasting is also such that he has appeared as himself in cameos in two New Zealand films, Sleeping Dogs (1977) and In My Father's Den (2004). In 2012 he finally made his debut in a true acting role, starring as "Grandad Jack" in a six-minute short film by Gem Waterhouse, Forget Me Not.
In 1987 he was chosen to host the Australasian version of the popular ITV-produced Granada Television quiz show The Krypton Factor .
Following his retirement from TVNZ, Stevenson became the host of the Allied Press –owned Dunedin television station Channel 39's Dunedin Diary weekly current affairs show. [4]
Stevenson was named New Zealand Television Personality of the Year at the 1976 Feltex Awards, and in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours received the Queen's Service Medal for services to broadcasting. [5] He currently lives at Deborah Bay, near Port Chalmers, Dunedin.
Simon James Power is a former New Zealand National Party politician and who served as a Cabinet Minister for the first parliamentary term of the Fifth National Government of New Zealand and as Member of Parliament for Rangitīkei. Power held the roles of Minister of Justice, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Deputy Leader of the House.
1 News is the news division of New Zealand television network TVNZ. The service is broadcast live from TVNZ Centre in Auckland. The flagship news bulletin is the nightly 6 pm news hour, but 1 News also has midday and late night news bulletins, as well as current affairs shows such as Breakfast and Seven Sharp.
Owen Marshall Jones, who writes under the pen name Owen Marshall, is a New Zealand short story writer and novelist. The third son of a Methodist minister younger brother of Allan Jones, and older brother of Rhys Jones, he came of age in Blenheim and Timaru, and graduated from the University of Canterbury with an MA in English in 1964. Marshall taught in a rural boys' high school for 25 years before becoming a full-time author.
Ian Geoffrey Fraser is a New Zealand broadcaster and personality. He was the chief executive officer of Television New Zealand from 2002 until 2005.
Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu is a New Zealand bass baritone opera singer. Born to Samoan parents who had emigrated to New Zealand, he was educated in Dunedin. His first singing teacher was Honor McKellar, who began teaching him while he attended Otago Boys' High School. He studied both Law and Music at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1999.
Channel 39, also known as Southern Television, is a regional television station operating in Dunedin, New Zealand. The channel is a division of Allied Press, who also publish the local daily newspaper Otago Daily Times.
TVNZ 1 is the first national television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ). It is the oldest television broadcaster in New Zealand, starting out from 1960 as independent channels in the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, networking in 1969 to become NZBC TV. The network was renamed Television One in 1975 upon the break-up of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, and became a part of TVNZ in 1980 when Television One and South Pacific Television merged. The channel assumed its current name in October 2016.
John Langley Hawkesby is a former news presenter for ONE News and THREE News in New Zealand.
Shane William Cotton is a New Zealand painter whose work explores biculturalism, colonialism, cultural identity, Māori spirituality, and life and death.
Mark Rhys Weldon is a New Zealand businessman and swimmer.
Gregory Stephen Boyed was a New Zealand journalist and television presenter. He was best known as the presenter of TVNZ 1's 1 News Tonight; he also hosted Breakfast, 1 News At 6pm, Q+A, and Seven Sharp.
Peter John "PJ" Montgomery is a New Zealand sports broadcaster. His work has covered many sports, but he is best known as "The Voice of the America's Cup" on New Zealand and International radio and television. He is often remembered for "The America's Cup is now New Zealand's Cup", his summary when New Zealand won their first America's Cup in San Diego in 1995. The line was voted the most memorable sporting commentary moment in history by the Sunday Star Times.
Nigel Latta, is a New Zealand psychologist and author. He is also the host of the television show Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show. He revealed on The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta that he had 3 stints at university from 1986 to 1995, two in Otago University in philosophy, zoology, and finished in Auckland University with BSc in psychology and postgraduate diploma.
DNTV2 was a television station in Dunedin, New Zealand established by the then New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1962. Its base, and studio complex operated from the historic Garrison Hall in Dowling Street. Until 2010 Garrison Hall was occupied by NHNZ which has since moved to a larger facility in Melville Street. Garrison Hall remains a television production hub to this day, it is now home to Animation Research, Taylormade Media, The Video Factory and Kahawai Productions.
Douglas Warwick Armstrong was a New Zealand cricketer, television sports broadcaster and local-body politician. He served as mayor of Rodney District from 1992 to 2000.
Tanara Whairiri Kitawhiti "Whai" Ngata was a Māori broadcaster, journalist, and lexicographer.
Peta Christine Mathias is a New Zealand food writer and television show presenter and owns a television production company that produces food and travel shows. She is also known for leading gastronomic tours in the south of France, Morocco, Spain and India.
The 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday and diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 4 June 2012.
Gordon William McLauchlan was a New Zealand writer and social historian. He became a popular media personality through his work on both television and radio.
Philip James Sherry was a New Zealand broadcaster and local-body politician. He served as a newsreader for various radio and television stations between 1960 and 1990, including as one of three presenters selected to read the NZBC Network News when it began in November 1969 and presenting the first 3 National News bulletin on 27 November 1989. He later served as a local-body politician in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.