Matt and Tyler's New Zealander of the Week - September 4

At the end of every week, Matt and Tyler name the New Zealander of the Week.

It's an honour that we bestow on your behalf to someone, or something, that's had an impact on our nation over the past week. 

There are three nominees but can only be one winner.

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from Newstalk ZB. Follow this
and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. The
Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons. New Zealander of the Week.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Amazing news, Newstalk ZB. It's time once again for the
Matt Heath and Tyler Adams afternoons on Newstalk ZB New
Zealander of the Week. Again, we shall equally celebrate three
powerful New Zealanders. And remember, this is the most inclusive
awards on planet Earth. Any human, plant, concept, smell, small, immature, juvenile, fish,
billionaire or heroic aviator can be honoured. So let's get

(00:46):
the f * * * on with it. If Auckland
FC has taught us anything about sport in New Zealand,
it's this. You need as many billionaires involved as you
can get. It's a formula that's worked globally for the
American football, for the ice hockey, baseball, European football, Indian cricket,

(01:06):
and now in little old New Zealand, netball. So, for
bringing the bucks to back our beloved stuck-in-the-mud basketball, Anna
Mowbray and Ali Williams, you are a couple of netball-saving...
New Zealanders of the Week. They are small, white, worm-shaped

(01:28):
wonders with big, happy black eyes. They're often found fried
up with egg, flour and rammed between buttery white death
with a squirt of lemon just for fun. But all
is not well in the whitebait world. Fights on the riverbanks.
Commercial operators taking the piss. And worst of all, know-nothing
afternoon talkback hosts have been claiming... Whitebait add little to

(01:50):
a fritter but their crunchy eyes. Whatever you think, there
is no doubt, baiting brings families together. So with the
season open this week, to those about to net, we
salute you. When a giant volcano violently erupts, most people

(02:11):
get as far away as possible. On December 9, 2019,
this man and his team did the exact opposite. They
risked it all for others, flying into toxic gas, ash,
and unbelievable heat to rescue anyone they could. And they
did all this with a good chance the volcano would
go off again and they wouldn't return. The official rescue

(02:31):
was cancelled. There was no one else to help. So
this man took charge of his fearless flying buddies and
saved 12 human lives. This week, his inspirational book, Lucky
You Are Tough, is in stores. It's the complete story
of this SAS legend and Whakaari White Island hero, and
it's a fantastic read. Helicopter hero Mark Law, you are

(02:52):
the most deserving New Zealander of the week we could
possibly imagine. Thank you for your service, and take it away,
Sir Howard Morrison. When I saw that this fort was struggling,

(03:25):
it actually broke a piece of me.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
We cannot take away that aspiration from our young girls.
If I can just go on the river, catch.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
A feed, go home, cook up for the whanau, it's
just the best.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
How great thou art.

Speaker 1 (04:12):
The Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons. New Zealander of
the Week. For more from Newstalk ZB, listen live, on
air or online. And keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.