February 15, 2026 • 24 mins
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on. iHeartRadio,
Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real Life with John Cowen
on News Talks Edbyday.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Welcome to Real Life. I'm John Cowen and I'm delighted
to have Ivon Tahana joining me on zoom. A long
career as a TV journalist, in many years as a
print journalist before that, she's been privileged, I guess, to
witness so much of New Zealand life and small towns
and morai and big events and historic events, and she's
(00:54):
been able to tell stories about what she's seen. Well,
so she's seen a lot of life, and tonight I'm
hoping you'll get a glimpse of Yvon's life as well.
Welcome to the program, Yvon in.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Our Queen John. I've never actually done radio.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well this is a first. I mean, lots of new
things in your world, and look, I hate putting people
into categories and boxes, but I would say the most
nervous guests I've had in the past have been reporters
and interviewers because they're not used to being on that
side of the of the microphone, So hopefully you're not
feeling too nervous tonight.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You know what was really lovely, John, was the two
minute countdown. I always like to countdown, John, Yes, it
always meant.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It was one that was nice.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, when that red light comes on, you know that
you've you've just got to start flapping, the flapping your
jaw and something's got to come out of your mouth.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Something's got to come out of it, hopefully something intelligent.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well, you've managed that for years on TV, brilliant interviews
and crosses, and in fact, that's what you're talking about, crosses.
That's the thing that I think that TV reporters deserve
medals for standing out and were the waiting for waiting
for a queue from the studio to come down the line,
knowing that there's all their potential for things to go wrong.
(02:12):
So you must have nerves of steel.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh do you know what?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
I never felt happy when it was pouring a gale
and you were standing right in the middle of it,
Like you know, it was never a happy time because.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You know, no one likes to be a drowned rat.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And John, you can't do anything with your hair, what
you know, especially mine.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Once it's wet.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
It's just a mumbun on TV, which is that's never
a good look either.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Have you had sadistic directors that have said, you know,
just just move out nder the weather a bit more,
let's see the wind tossing your hair.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Linton's in some of their eyes. They just, you know,
just grab your umbrella and then you're on.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You don't.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Actually, I've only ever seen the great Simon moose Up
try and hold an umbrella on a really wouldnty Knight,
and it didn't turn.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Out very well for him.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I was talking to a TV cameraman today who's worked
with you, Raymond, and he was talking about down at
Gisbone with the wind howling in and having to rope
in everyone in, pleading his wife to hold stands and
things and all hands to the pump to try and
stop everything blowing away.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
I was very lucky that day because the relationship in
the field between a cameraman and a reporters is it's
real teamwork, John, And it's the thing I probably loved
the most is you know, at the end of the day,
you might, you know, you put a story together and
you might do a live but that's a whole team
(03:43):
of people, not just you. So you know, I know
that social media means people cannoperak by themselves, but there's
an art and a.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Craft to a Tally story.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
And we have hugely talented cameramen in New Zealand who
capture raw emotions. Sometimes they capture some of our greatest
characters are like the most ordinary people in our smallest
towns all over the place. You know, it was the
kiwi twang or just a way of talking and you
(04:15):
just love them immediately and they so it's you and
them on the road, you know, together racing against a
time you know some you know, a clock or whatever.
But it's a huge amount of fun. And I always
loved the gossip. And I mean, I think I said
in my leaving speech, you know, I might have a
(04:36):
job in farn today one day and you'd you know,
you'd leave from the basement at TV and Z.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
The gossip would start from you know.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
The moment you left, you got in the car, you know,
got to far and you get out of the car.
It would only stop to get up to do the job.
And it would start once you'd written your script and
then you're on your way home and it's great fun
and so I always love that aspect of it, the
teamwork of it.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, people talk sometimes about media being a tough industry,
and it is tough. But the relationships I guess you
have with workmates must must soften that a lot must
make it more tolerable.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Oh we had like yeah, I mean it's an industry
where there's a lot, Like there are some of the funniest,
driest rollest humor, some great characters, and actually there's a
whole there's bunches of different.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Grapes that make up.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Journalists, like you know, like we're all quite different people,
and so are the cameramen. So you know, you mix
that all up and you just try and get a
product out at the end of the day, something that
means something, something that helps people understand an issue or
a place or a time or an event or just
the fun of you know, or some human tragedy. You know,
(05:58):
like you just so so the people actually help you
get through. And I actually Tali's you know, when I.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Worked in I think it's different. It might be different now.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I kind of like I did a little bit of
the the web stuff when I was at the Herald,
but it's much more advanced now, but it was more
of a lone ranger kind of job. You you know,
when you're a journalist in printal digital, you kind of
worked by yourself, you know, in a larger team. And
(06:28):
I would say that TV's a little bit noisier. I
think funner people whisper because I know a lot of
people that work in digital and they're brilliant and lovely people.
But I have to say Tally has the funniest characters
we had.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Hey, radio is pretty good too, but I've never worked radio.
Dawn something coming up. I'm sure that you're you're alluding
to working in print media before that. And I went
online and started browsing through. Do you know there was
over eight hundred and twenty stories still online with your
(07:07):
buy nine byline at the top from you just your
time working in White Catter And I was only there
for a couple of years, I know, But you're churning
them out. Even on your first day, I saw that
you had printed about you had about four or five
stories each of a couple of very very sad puns
right at the start. But that was really days.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
You had to pull me back, to be honest, I
love color writing.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, I think I got it right in the end.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But the thing I think the secret to good writing
you've got to entertain people as well. A know, it's
not just a bunch of facts strung together. You've got
to make a story, and a storyteller brings life and
color and atmosphere to what they do. They put the
person there because our readers or the people that watch
(07:56):
Tally or whatever can't be there. So that's your job.
So no, I always loved the pun. You did have
to pull me back from them. But that's what subs me.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
For the evil sub editors that go and put their
their white pencil through all your pictures and read red
line through your.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Text savedal Bacon, Yeah, once or twice.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Hey, Evon, we've been talking about your career in media,
and I'm going to get you to reflect a bit
more on that in the second half. But you're moving
on and to a new adventure. Tell us what you've
got coming up? Well, actually you're probably already two weeks
into it. What are you? What are you doing now?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I've started at Takyuda, which is a one in Auckland.
They turn out some amazing real speakers you know, second
language learners. And for the last few years, I mean
I've had you know, I've done every course under the sun, John,
(08:59):
you know, real course, night courses. Always loved it and
actually had a working knowledge, uh you know, enough to
get by, but never any fluency and never being able
to if people speak to me and Mardy never having
the confidence to answer them back. And so I just
(09:22):
it kind of I got to the point where, even
though I loved telling stories and I might come back
to it, I'm not sure it became quite easy, you know,
like it became easy and I and I loved it,
but I also, you know, we all need new challenges.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
This is your what they call it a b hag?
Is it a big, hairy, audacious challenge or something to
get to grips on. And also you're talking about how
you loved humor. Wouldn't it be great if you could
get to the point where you can actually crack jokes in.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, yeah, that's it. And I think we're funny people,
so and you know, I think we've all been tom
or I when we you.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Know that the collective laugh comes up, you know, to
something that someone said, or you're in the kitchen and
people are just having a laugh at each other and
someone's and you just want to be part of that,
or you're just gossiping in a newsroom.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
It feels really, it feels really lame when someone cracks
a joke and the pipe pie and you just sort
of laugh along because you're wanting to be good mannered,
but you don't having a clue what they said.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yeah, well you might get itis, but you don't have
the you know, the deep knowledge or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Hey, maybe you'd be able to also crack a few
jokes with Mike McRoberts and he May Clark's and Marie Amacamo,
Ashley Nathan Kruz, kung Era. They are all graduates of
this course that you're doing.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
They're amazing the Yeah, they're amazing what they do. And
I've got to say the the teachers are passionate and
their fire g she's my our classes teacher. She basically said,
it's probably She basically said, I think it is such
(11:12):
good advice. She says it multiple times in a day,
like just have fun, just have fun with your real
and I think.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
That she's lolling, She's lulling you into complacency. This is
what she calls the honeymoon period. Fire Gene is going
to whack you or in all sorts of different directions
after you finish this first eight week block, because then
there's a whole lot of four week blocks that are
going to actually really stretch you. So that's something to
look forward to, and I'm looking forward to talking to
(11:40):
you more in the second half. My guest tonight Ivon Tahana,
who is sadly now an ex reporter, but she's actually
really gleefully embracing learning to re mai and in a
full time context. So we'll be talking more after this break.
I'm John Cown. This is real life. You're listening to Newstalk.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
ZEDB intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on
news Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Well, then your big sister and I took her to
a show and I'm watching Pannic Long Engine Danny, it's
not right.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Welcome back to real life. I'm John Cown and my
guest tonight Evon Tahana, who is requested a little sister
of by the high Marks, and I'm surprised receive this
one coming down the shute. Why did you pick that one? Evon?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Well, my nanny was a rooker, and the brothers and
then a few were all rookers in the band. So
my dad's first cousins and in the eighties when I
was growing up, like that was on high Rotation and
our car and you know, it's like those great memories
of leather seats. Ah you see your league sticking to them.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I don't know, my dad just loved them.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
And it's when I hear this song particularly, it just
reminds me of like childhood, such a I think they
have happy music and yeah, so I wants to hear
it on the radio.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, it's it's high time we listened to the high
Marks against. That's great. Did they count as one of
those sort of Maori show bands that were.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
So definitely seventies?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
No, I had a cousin and one of them, and
they played all around the Pacific and they were a
big thing in New Zealand culture back then.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
We think the adventures that they had, you know, like
the adventures that they had, you know, see Howard Morrison,
the Maori volcanics, like so many people had wonderful careers,
like just doing something that came so natural naturally to
so naturally to them singing and not to me, but
uh you know, like yeah, it's just a sense of pride,
(13:55):
I suppose and what they achieved.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah, now you Papa back to up north north somewhere.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yeah, Yeah, I'm I'm from Napoohi through and through both sides,
and so my mum's from all which is the side
the Bay of Island side of Naplehi, the eastern side
of Napohi.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
And I'm from hook Youanga.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
On my dad's side, so both sides, from ted Adawa
on my northern side, Tahara and Roccas. Harris's my nanny
that I was just talking about. His mum was from
Tahiki where the high marks are from.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Now, I know some people have a sort of a
different experience of growing up. Some people grow up in
an urban environment where they're not as much exposed to things.
Were you more in a rural environment.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Or more was a bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
My parents were living in oz and they mum was
back here for a bit, had me we're back to
was that and so my dad, my dad was a
truck driver over there. For much of our childhood. We
lived in Sydney, so big multicultural rugby league like all
(15:07):
of that good stuff we were growing up. And then
I think it was when I was intermediate, was it
we moved back to New Zealand. Yeah, and to a
little place called Orta, which was outside of Kaiko.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Here. I've never seen a cow before, so it was
you know.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
And then we caught school bus and it was like
in the early nineties, like school buses were crazy, kipt
like crazy, like I just remember, I don't know, there
was just it was a bit of a culture shock.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
It was fun, you know, because yeah, it was just
like a fun.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Time in a huge culture shop, being basically a dare
I say it ANSI kid being spliced?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Definitely?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And so how did you react as a kid to
to al Muori the Maori world? Did it strike it
was weird or were you already for fairly familiar with it.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
I think, like, reflect back now, I'm so happy my
parents moved back to New Zealand. I wouldn't have had
an idea or a concept of what it was to
be mild if they hadn't really mardy, if I had,
if they hadn't have got homesick and decided to come home.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
And yeah, you know, when we moved.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Back, our parents got heavily into my dad, especially into
We had a far No rugby league team. It was
called the two Hinga Tornadoes and we played nipple for
this like our it was a far No team really,
so like sport was like a great introduction to like
your cousins, and it was alsome, you know, like community.
(16:51):
I suppose, yes, And this was like in the and
I think in that time in the nineties, like you
know that that all of the little valleys that had teams,
whether that be rugby teams, league teams, neple teams, whatever,
and it was a great glue, you know, like a
social glue.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
So no, I mean, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Some things like I missed out on, like you know,
some things you learn when you're five years old and
when you're in New Zealander, right, like t Te domina Ui,
Like I've never really liked that song, but I think,
you know, like it kind of is ingrained quite young,
yeah you know what I mean, And like the New
Zealand five year old experience where you go to school
with friends five year old and all that. But no,
(17:33):
I you know, they moved back, so I knew where
I was from, you know, you know, I know my Mara,
I haven't been a good participant. I think I've been
to like so many maraya around the country through Mahi
and probably been a bit useless on the other front.
But I've never felt I mean, I feel proudly in
apuh and happy to be from.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
The naughty North.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I think I will say, you know, having traveled the
country and seen quite a lot of ewie structures around
the place, the North has some of the funniest characters,
some of the most intelligent, some of the most you know,
if you ask an Aapuhi or someone from moody Fenua
a question, you know, you don't dine, you don't wonder
(18:24):
what they think.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
They'll tell you what they think.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
And I love the they're upfront and they tell you
things to your face, and that's, you know, really think
of the book. Yeah, the character is really upfront and
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I remember an old fire leaning gun to me when
I was going to do something on my rye up north,
going oh, don't worry, but we're easy. They're not like
down south. Well you did move down south, did you
find it different to when you were going the into
the White cato?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (18:52):
The King tongue as an institution is you know, something
that I was was completely foreign to me, but it's
something that you know and.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
You would hear.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I actually didn't have a comprehension that there were other
tribes outside of the north into I went to university
at Wiecuttle, and then you understood particular other there, other Maorikos.
We used to say like down south and it isn't
even that far. But it wasn't until I left, you know,
(19:23):
home at eighteen that I realized there were other tribes.
But as you know, having spent a bit of time
living there and having covered you know that you extensively
over the years, I really respect the institution because it
kept them strong when you know through dopatsu, it kept
(19:44):
their real you know, you know this is everything's on
a scale. But it kept them culturally strong. It kept
the walker going in one direction, having that paramount chief,
having the the cultural things that go alongside the king
e tongue.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
It's I was going to ask you about that because
I think you've said your career has sort of been
bookended by two very significant queen and the Mauri king,
and and in some of that as very sad but
blessed the whole country in a way.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I Yeah, first as a baby reporter in Wycottle, I
covered Takin Dame Ta Tayka Who's tongue hunger.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
That was in two thousand and six.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
And you know, one of mine during memories of that
week was the whole.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Topiti Mona covered.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
In people and you know, doing the hukapority as who
as her casket was carried up the up the Monga.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Such a special moment in time.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
And you know, before that, she traveled down the Waycottle River,
you know who ancestral hour to get there and that
we had never I had never seen something on that
scale and it had been I don't think the country
had seen a tongue hunger on that scale either.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Over that week there was certainly.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
One hundred thousand people and you felt the weight of
people of Ewie presence there, of dignitaries from around the
you know the world, and and it was a very
special and it was you know, what's the word I'm
looking for, John, When it's it's it's something that sharpens
your focus, you know, when you're a young reporter. It
(21:31):
was I can't think of the word right now, but
it was.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It was.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Yeah, it was a very special time. And then you know,
cut to like almost twenty years on, her son too
hates her passing away. His last year of his leadership,
You'd have to say was really strong, really really good,
really strong. He took a position around called Tahitana during
(21:59):
quite difficult times and really did show leadership. Yeah, it
was in that intervening period. I did feel that somehow
I improved as a journalist, So to be able to
be part of both was really really special.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Evan, You've got to do more radio. You come across
so well. In fact, we've filled up this half hour
already and I've still got a page full of questions
to ask you. But thank you so much for being
part of real life and with you all the best
and your adventures of mastering Torio and being a good student.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
And I was practicing for something tomorrow, so I'll get
back to that.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
You are good on you and I wish you all
the best. And we're going out on another song you've picked.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Which is I'm a nineties teenager and you know we
all love a bit of Mariah, so always be my baby.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Okay, thank you so much for being part of Real Life. Well,
my dear, I'm John Cowen. I'm looking forward to being
back with you again next Sunday Night with Real Life,
This is News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Money Star My cat.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Stop for more from US Talks ad B. Listen live
(24:06):
on air or online, and keep out shows with you
wherever you go without podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on. iHeartRadio,
Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real Life with John Cowen
on News Talks Edbyday.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Welcome to Real Life. I'm John Cowen and I'm delighted
to have Ivon Tahana joining me on zoom. A long
career as a TV journalist, in many years as a
print journalist before that, she's been privileged, I guess, to
witness so much of New Zealand life and small towns
and morai and big events and historic events, and she's
(00:54):
been able to tell stories about what she's seen. Well,
so she's seen a lot of life, and tonight I'm
hoping you'll get a glimpse of Yvon's life as well.
Welcome to the program, Yvon in.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Our Queen John. I've never actually done radio.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well this is a first. I mean, lots of new
things in your world, and look, I hate putting people
into categories and boxes, but I would say the most
nervous guests I've had in the past have been reporters
and interviewers because they're not used to being on that
side of the of the microphone, So hopefully you're not
feeling too nervous tonight.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You know what was really lovely, John, was the two
minute countdown. I always like to countdown, John, Yes, it
always meant.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It was one that was nice.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, when that red light comes on, you know that
you've you've just got to start flapping, the flapping your
jaw and something's got to come out of your mouth.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Something's got to come out of it, hopefully something intelligent.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well, you've managed that for years on TV, brilliant interviews
and crosses, and in fact, that's what you're talking about, crosses.
That's the thing that I think that TV reporters deserve
medals for standing out and were the waiting for waiting
for a queue from the studio to come down the line,
knowing that there's all their potential for things to go wrong.
(02:12):
So you must have nerves of steel.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh do you know what?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
I never felt happy when it was pouring a gale
and you were standing right in the middle of it,
Like you know, it was never a happy time because.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You know, no one likes to be a drowned rat.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And John, you can't do anything with your hair, what
you know, especially mine.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Once it's wet.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
It's just a mumbun on TV, which is that's never
a good look either.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Have you had sadistic directors that have said, you know,
just just move out nder the weather a bit more,
let's see the wind tossing your hair.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Linton's in some of their eyes. They just, you know,
just grab your umbrella and then you're on.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You don't.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Actually, I've only ever seen the great Simon moose Up
try and hold an umbrella on a really wouldnty Knight,
and it didn't turn.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Out very well for him.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I was talking to a TV cameraman today who's worked
with you, Raymond, and he was talking about down at
Gisbone with the wind howling in and having to rope
in everyone in, pleading his wife to hold stands and
things and all hands to the pump to try and
stop everything blowing away.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
I was very lucky that day because the relationship in
the field between a cameraman and a reporters is it's
real teamwork, John, And it's the thing I probably loved
the most is you know, at the end of the day,
you might, you know, you put a story together and
you might do a live but that's a whole team
(03:43):
of people, not just you. So you know, I know
that social media means people cannoperak by themselves, but there's
an art and a.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Craft to a Tally story.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
And we have hugely talented cameramen in New Zealand who
capture raw emotions. Sometimes they capture some of our greatest
characters are like the most ordinary people in our smallest
towns all over the place. You know, it was the
kiwi twang or just a way of talking and you
(04:15):
just love them immediately and they so it's you and
them on the road, you know, together racing against a
time you know some you know, a clock or whatever.
But it's a huge amount of fun. And I always
loved the gossip. And I mean, I think I said
in my leaving speech, you know, I might have a
(04:36):
job in farn today one day and you'd you know,
you'd leave from the basement at TV and Z.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
The gossip would start from you know.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
The moment you left, you got in the car, you know,
got to far and you get out of the car.
It would only stop to get up to do the job.
And it would start once you'd written your script and
then you're on your way home and it's great fun
and so I always love that aspect of it, the
teamwork of it.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, people talk sometimes about media being a tough industry,
and it is tough. But the relationships I guess you
have with workmates must must soften that a lot must
make it more tolerable.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Oh we had like yeah, I mean it's an industry
where there's a lot, Like there are some of the funniest,
driest rollest humor, some great characters, and actually there's a
whole there's bunches of different.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Grapes that make up.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Journalists, like you know, like we're all quite different people,
and so are the cameramen. So you know, you mix
that all up and you just try and get a
product out at the end of the day, something that
means something, something that helps people understand an issue or
a place or a time or an event or just
the fun of you know, or some human tragedy. You know,
(05:58):
like you just so so the people actually help you
get through. And I actually Tali's you know, when I.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Worked in I think it's different. It might be different now.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I kind of like I did a little bit of
the the web stuff when I was at the Herald,
but it's much more advanced now, but it was more
of a lone ranger kind of job. You you know,
when you're a journalist in printal digital, you kind of
worked by yourself, you know, in a larger team. And
(06:28):
I would say that TV's a little bit noisier. I
think funner people whisper because I know a lot of
people that work in digital and they're brilliant and lovely people.
But I have to say Tally has the funniest characters
we had.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Hey, radio is pretty good too, but I've never worked radio.
Dawn something coming up. I'm sure that you're you're alluding
to working in print media before that. And I went
online and started browsing through. Do you know there was
over eight hundred and twenty stories still online with your
(07:07):
buy nine byline at the top from you just your
time working in White Catter And I was only there
for a couple of years, I know, But you're churning
them out. Even on your first day, I saw that
you had printed about you had about four or five
stories each of a couple of very very sad puns
right at the start. But that was really days.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
You had to pull me back, to be honest, I
love color writing.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, I think I got it right in the end.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But the thing I think the secret to good writing
you've got to entertain people as well. A know, it's
not just a bunch of facts strung together. You've got
to make a story, and a storyteller brings life and
color and atmosphere to what they do. They put the
person there because our readers or the people that watch
(07:56):
Tally or whatever can't be there. So that's your job.
So no, I always loved the pun. You did have
to pull me back from them. But that's what subs me.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
For the evil sub editors that go and put their
their white pencil through all your pictures and read red
line through your.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Text savedal Bacon, Yeah, once or twice.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Hey, Evon, we've been talking about your career in media,
and I'm going to get you to reflect a bit
more on that in the second half. But you're moving
on and to a new adventure. Tell us what you've
got coming up? Well, actually you're probably already two weeks
into it. What are you? What are you doing now?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I've started at Takyuda, which is a one in Auckland.
They turn out some amazing real speakers you know, second
language learners. And for the last few years, I mean
I've had you know, I've done every course under the sun, John,
(08:59):
you know, real course, night courses. Always loved it and
actually had a working knowledge, uh you know, enough to
get by, but never any fluency and never being able
to if people speak to me and Mardy never having
the confidence to answer them back. And so I just
(09:22):
it kind of I got to the point where, even
though I loved telling stories and I might come back
to it, I'm not sure it became quite easy, you know,
like it became easy and I and I loved it,
but I also, you know, we all need new challenges.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
This is your what they call it a b hag?
Is it a big, hairy, audacious challenge or something to
get to grips on. And also you're talking about how
you loved humor. Wouldn't it be great if you could
get to the point where you can actually crack jokes in.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, yeah, that's it. And I think we're funny people,
so and you know, I think we've all been tom
or I when we you.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Know that the collective laugh comes up, you know, to
something that someone said, or you're in the kitchen and
people are just having a laugh at each other and
someone's and you just want to be part of that,
or you're just gossiping in a newsroom.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
It feels really, it feels really lame when someone cracks
a joke and the pipe pie and you just sort
of laugh along because you're wanting to be good mannered,
but you don't having a clue what they said.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yeah, well you might get itis, but you don't have
the you know, the deep knowledge or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Hey, maybe you'd be able to also crack a few
jokes with Mike McRoberts and he May Clark's and Marie Amacamo,
Ashley Nathan Kruz, kung Era. They are all graduates of
this course that you're doing.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
They're amazing the Yeah, they're amazing what they do. And
I've got to say the the teachers are passionate and
their fire g she's my our classes teacher. She basically said,
it's probably She basically said, I think it is such
(11:12):
good advice. She says it multiple times in a day,
like just have fun, just have fun with your real
and I think.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
That she's lolling, She's lulling you into complacency. This is
what she calls the honeymoon period. Fire Gene is going
to whack you or in all sorts of different directions
after you finish this first eight week block, because then
there's a whole lot of four week blocks that are
going to actually really stretch you. So that's something to
look forward to, and I'm looking forward to talking to
(11:40):
you more in the second half. My guest tonight Ivon Tahana,
who is sadly now an ex reporter, but she's actually
really gleefully embracing learning to re mai and in a
full time context. So we'll be talking more after this break.
I'm John Cown. This is real life. You're listening to Newstalk.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
ZEDB intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on
news Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Well, then your big sister and I took her to
a show and I'm watching Pannic Long Engine Danny, it's
not right.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Welcome back to real life. I'm John Cown and my
guest tonight Evon Tahana, who is requested a little sister
of by the high Marks, and I'm surprised receive this
one coming down the shute. Why did you pick that one? Evon?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Well, my nanny was a rooker, and the brothers and
then a few were all rookers in the band. So
my dad's first cousins and in the eighties when I
was growing up, like that was on high Rotation and
our car and you know, it's like those great memories
of leather seats. Ah you see your league sticking to them.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I don't know, my dad just loved them.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
And it's when I hear this song particularly, it just
reminds me of like childhood, such a I think they
have happy music and yeah, so I wants to hear
it on the radio.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, it's it's high time we listened to the high
Marks against. That's great. Did they count as one of
those sort of Maori show bands that were.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
So definitely seventies?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
No, I had a cousin and one of them, and
they played all around the Pacific and they were a
big thing in New Zealand culture back then.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
We think the adventures that they had, you know, like
the adventures that they had, you know, see Howard Morrison,
the Maori volcanics, like so many people had wonderful careers,
like just doing something that came so natural naturally to
so naturally to them singing and not to me, but
uh you know, like yeah, it's just a sense of pride,
(13:55):
I suppose and what they achieved.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah, now you Papa back to up north north somewhere.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yeah, Yeah, I'm I'm from Napoohi through and through both sides,
and so my mum's from all which is the side
the Bay of Island side of Naplehi, the eastern side
of Napohi.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
And I'm from hook Youanga.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
On my dad's side, so both sides, from ted Adawa
on my northern side, Tahara and Roccas. Harris's my nanny
that I was just talking about. His mum was from
Tahiki where the high marks are from.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Now, I know some people have a sort of a
different experience of growing up. Some people grow up in
an urban environment where they're not as much exposed to things.
Were you more in a rural environment.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Or more was a bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
My parents were living in oz and they mum was
back here for a bit, had me we're back to
was that and so my dad, my dad was a
truck driver over there. For much of our childhood. We
lived in Sydney, so big multicultural rugby league like all
(15:07):
of that good stuff we were growing up. And then
I think it was when I was intermediate, was it
we moved back to New Zealand. Yeah, and to a
little place called Orta, which was outside of Kaiko.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Here. I've never seen a cow before, so it was
you know.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
And then we caught school bus and it was like
in the early nineties, like school buses were crazy, kipt
like crazy, like I just remember, I don't know, there
was just it was a bit of a culture shock.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
It was fun, you know, because yeah, it was just
like a fun.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Time in a huge culture shop, being basically a dare
I say it ANSI kid being spliced?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Definitely?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And so how did you react as a kid to
to al Muori the Maori world? Did it strike it
was weird or were you already for fairly familiar with it.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
I think, like, reflect back now, I'm so happy my
parents moved back to New Zealand. I wouldn't have had
an idea or a concept of what it was to
be mild if they hadn't really mardy, if I had,
if they hadn't have got homesick and decided to come home.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
And yeah, you know, when we moved.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Back, our parents got heavily into my dad, especially into
We had a far No rugby league team. It was
called the two Hinga Tornadoes and we played nipple for
this like our it was a far No team really,
so like sport was like a great introduction to like
your cousins, and it was alsome, you know, like community.
(16:51):
I suppose, yes, And this was like in the and
I think in that time in the nineties, like you
know that that all of the little valleys that had teams,
whether that be rugby teams, league teams, neple teams, whatever,
and it was a great glue, you know, like a
social glue.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
So no, I mean, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Some things like I missed out on, like you know,
some things you learn when you're five years old and
when you're in New Zealander, right, like t Te domina Ui,
Like I've never really liked that song, but I think,
you know, like it kind of is ingrained quite young,
yeah you know what I mean, And like the New
Zealand five year old experience where you go to school
with friends five year old and all that. But no,
(17:33):
I you know, they moved back, so I knew where
I was from, you know, you know, I know my Mara,
I haven't been a good participant. I think I've been
to like so many maraya around the country through Mahi
and probably been a bit useless on the other front.
But I've never felt I mean, I feel proudly in
apuh and happy to be from.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
The naughty North.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I think I will say, you know, having traveled the
country and seen quite a lot of ewie structures around
the place, the North has some of the funniest characters,
some of the most intelligent, some of the most you know,
if you ask an Aapuhi or someone from moody Fenua
a question, you know, you don't dine, you don't wonder
(18:24):
what they think.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
They'll tell you what they think.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
And I love the they're upfront and they tell you
things to your face, and that's, you know, really think
of the book. Yeah, the character is really upfront and
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I remember an old fire leaning gun to me when
I was going to do something on my rye up north,
going oh, don't worry, but we're easy. They're not like
down south. Well you did move down south, did you
find it different to when you were going the into
the White cato?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (18:52):
The King tongue as an institution is you know, something
that I was was completely foreign to me, but it's
something that you know and.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
You would hear.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I actually didn't have a comprehension that there were other
tribes outside of the north into I went to university
at Wiecuttle, and then you understood particular other there, other Maorikos.
We used to say like down south and it isn't
even that far. But it wasn't until I left, you know,
(19:23):
home at eighteen that I realized there were other tribes.
But as you know, having spent a bit of time
living there and having covered you know that you extensively
over the years, I really respect the institution because it
kept them strong when you know through dopatsu, it kept
(19:44):
their real you know, you know this is everything's on
a scale. But it kept them culturally strong. It kept
the walker going in one direction, having that paramount chief,
having the the cultural things that go alongside the king
e tongue.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
It's I was going to ask you about that because
I think you've said your career has sort of been
bookended by two very significant queen and the Mauri king,
and and in some of that as very sad but
blessed the whole country in a way.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I Yeah, first as a baby reporter in Wycottle, I
covered Takin Dame Ta Tayka Who's tongue hunger.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
That was in two thousand and six.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
And you know, one of mine during memories of that
week was the whole.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Topiti Mona covered.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
In people and you know, doing the hukapority as who
as her casket was carried up the up the Monga.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Such a special moment in time.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
And you know, before that, she traveled down the Waycottle River,
you know who ancestral hour to get there and that
we had never I had never seen something on that
scale and it had been I don't think the country
had seen a tongue hunger on that scale either.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Over that week there was certainly.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
One hundred thousand people and you felt the weight of
people of Ewie presence there, of dignitaries from around the
you know the world, and and it was a very
special and it was you know, what's the word I'm
looking for, John, When it's it's it's something that sharpens
your focus, you know, when you're a young reporter. It
(21:31):
was I can't think of the word right now, but
it was.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It was.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Yeah, it was a very special time. And then you know,
cut to like almost twenty years on, her son too
hates her passing away. His last year of his leadership,
You'd have to say was really strong, really really good,
really strong. He took a position around called Tahitana during
(21:59):
quite difficult times and really did show leadership. Yeah, it
was in that intervening period. I did feel that somehow
I improved as a journalist, So to be able to
be part of both was really really special.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Evan, You've got to do more radio. You come across
so well. In fact, we've filled up this half hour
already and I've still got a page full of questions
to ask you. But thank you so much for being
part of real life and with you all the best
and your adventures of mastering Torio and being a good student.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
And I was practicing for something tomorrow, so I'll get
back to that.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
You are good on you and I wish you all
the best. And we're going out on another song you've picked.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Which is I'm a nineties teenager and you know we
all love a bit of Mariah, so always be my baby.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Okay, thank you so much for being part of Real Life. Well,
my dear, I'm John Cowen. I'm looking forward to being
back with you again next Sunday Night with Real Life,
This is News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Money Star My cat.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Stop for more from US Talks ad B. Listen live
(24:06):
on air or online, and keep out shows with you
wherever you go without podcasts on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Season 5
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.