December 30, 2025 • 5 mins
Leighton Smith is being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Broadcasting.
He hosted the Mornings Show on ZB for 33 years, and after retiring in 2019, he started his podcast which is running to this day.
When asked about his commitment to the industry, he told Andrew Dickens that, "Radio is radio. It represents everything that I that I ever wanted to be, to be perfectly honest."
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ITB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
One of our own is getting a new year on
a gong. Leighton Smith is being made a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting.
Of course, he hosted the morning show here on News
Talks AIRB for thirty three years. Twenty nineteen was the
year he retired. Took six years for him to leave
the show where he stepped away from the weekday show
(00:38):
and now went to the Leighton Smith podcast, which he's
still doing. And Lighton Smith is with us right now.
Good morning and welcome to the program Lighton.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I've been live on radio. I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
There we go and you spend thirty three years on
News Talks AIRB and that's incredible. And that doesn't count
your time in Australia. So what is it about radio
for you?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I think the answer is radio is radio and it
represents It represents everything that I that I ever wanted
to be to be perfectly asked from a very early age,
playing with crystal sets under the blankets at night when
I'm supposed to be asleep listening to you know what
(01:25):
a Crystal said is yeah radio, Yeah, and listening to
places far and beyond, including and this is in Sydney,
including listening to country a country music station in Gore.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Which is still going.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Which came and went depending on how the wind was
blowing across the chasma at any given time. That's true.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
But the thing about radio, and the thing about your
career in talk radio is also the conversations. And isn't
that what made you enjoy your time, particularly thirty three
years on news talk be scintilating conversations on the radio,
directing the nation's conversations.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yes, I have to grant you that I loved and
still love having conversations in before I ever got into radio,
I was indulging in conversations and I love the good
debate or a good argument always inspired. So it all
contributed in the end to the well to the end result,
(02:25):
I guess. But it's the it's the people you talk with,
not just who are listening. You know they're listening, but
the people who you talk with, who you engage with
and discover things that they might not want to reveal,
or take care of things that they're they're asking advice
on the people that you talk with are the most
(02:47):
important of all. If you don't have people to talk with,
people that communicate with properly, then you ain't got no
talk program, at least not a talk back program. So
that's I think the answer to your question.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I note the award recognizes your commitment to free speech,
and I know with your with you, with your podcast,
we talk about this a lot. So I wondered if
I could ask you, is free speech getting easier or
harder in New Zealand because when you were on are
eight years ago you were despairing.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, and I think it was justified, and I think
it still is justified. I mean eight years ago, did
we actually have the Free Speech Union? Eight years ago?
I can't recall whenever.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We did not? We did not.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
It was established. So along came the Free Speech Union
and those that established it, and they took the battle
on full frontal, and they've had they've had great success.
But does that mean that they've all retired because of
their success. No, because it keeps coming in different forms
of challenge, of.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Course it does. So here we are any thoughts of
ever stepping away from the microphone or is this a
marriage for life?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
The only marriage for life that I can give you
is one with Missus Producer. But beyond look, look it
took me. It took me years to actually get out
of radio because I wanted to for about six years,
and I kept getting persuaded to stay on. And now
(04:24):
that I've done this for as long as I have,
and it's all to do with COVID, otherwise we'd be
circling the world constantly. It's I think I can answer
your question bitter this way, Andrew, that I have made
a lot of friends around the globe and I'm not
(04:44):
talking so much about listeners as the people I interview,
and some of them have become very good and close friends.
And the more I discover people, and shall we say,
uncover their contribution, the more likely I am to hang
about a bit longer. And you're right, well, the contract's
got this next year.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To good good. Can I say your guests are bright
and engaging and fantastic conversation and so are you. It's
quite remarkable. My love and all our love to missus Producer,
and also to you. We miss you, but we're very
happy that you're doing so well. And once again, congratulations
on being a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
(05:29):
Leighton Smith, thank you for your time today.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And Andrews, thank you for the week. Thank you for
the call. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's a pleasure. Pleasures are mine and the audiences.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ITB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
One of our own is getting a new year on
a gong. Leighton Smith is being made a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting.
Of course, he hosted the morning show here on News
Talks AIRB for thirty three years. Twenty nineteen was the
year he retired. Took six years for him to leave
the show where he stepped away from the weekday show
(00:38):
and now went to the Leighton Smith podcast, which he's
still doing. And Lighton Smith is with us right now.
Good morning and welcome to the program Lighton.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I've been live on radio. I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
There we go and you spend thirty three years on
News Talks AIRB and that's incredible. And that doesn't count
your time in Australia. So what is it about radio
for you?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I think the answer is radio is radio and it
represents It represents everything that I that I ever wanted
to be to be perfectly asked from a very early age,
playing with crystal sets under the blankets at night when
I'm supposed to be asleep listening to you know what
(01:25):
a Crystal said is yeah radio, Yeah, and listening to
places far and beyond, including and this is in Sydney,
including listening to country a country music station in Gore.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Which is still going.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Which came and went depending on how the wind was
blowing across the chasma at any given time. That's true.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
But the thing about radio, and the thing about your
career in talk radio is also the conversations. And isn't
that what made you enjoy your time, particularly thirty three
years on news talk be scintilating conversations on the radio,
directing the nation's conversations.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yes, I have to grant you that I loved and
still love having conversations in before I ever got into radio,
I was indulging in conversations and I love the good
debate or a good argument always inspired. So it all
contributed in the end to the well to the end result,
(02:25):
I guess. But it's the it's the people you talk with,
not just who are listening. You know they're listening, but
the people who you talk with, who you engage with
and discover things that they might not want to reveal,
or take care of things that they're they're asking advice
on the people that you talk with are the most
(02:47):
important of all. If you don't have people to talk with,
people that communicate with properly, then you ain't got no
talk program, at least not a talk back program. So
that's I think the answer to your question.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I note the award recognizes your commitment to free speech,
and I know with your with you, with your podcast,
we talk about this a lot. So I wondered if
I could ask you, is free speech getting easier or
harder in New Zealand because when you were on are
eight years ago you were despairing.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, and I think it was justified, and I think
it still is justified. I mean eight years ago, did
we actually have the Free Speech Union? Eight years ago?
I can't recall whenever.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We did not? We did not.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
It was established. So along came the Free Speech Union
and those that established it, and they took the battle
on full frontal, and they've had they've had great success.
But does that mean that they've all retired because of
their success. No, because it keeps coming in different forms
of challenge, of.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Course it does. So here we are any thoughts of
ever stepping away from the microphone or is this a
marriage for life?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
The only marriage for life that I can give you
is one with Missus Producer. But beyond look, look it
took me. It took me years to actually get out
of radio because I wanted to for about six years,
and I kept getting persuaded to stay on. And now
(04:24):
that I've done this for as long as I have,
and it's all to do with COVID, otherwise we'd be
circling the world constantly. It's I think I can answer
your question bitter this way, Andrew, that I have made
a lot of friends around the globe and I'm not
(04:44):
talking so much about listeners as the people I interview,
and some of them have become very good and close friends.
And the more I discover people, and shall we say,
uncover their contribution, the more likely I am to hang
about a bit longer. And you're right, well, the contract's
got this next year.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To good good. Can I say your guests are bright
and engaging and fantastic conversation and so are you. It's
quite remarkable. My love and all our love to missus Producer,
and also to you. We miss you, but we're very
happy that you're doing so well. And once again, congratulations
on being a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
(05:29):
Leighton Smith, thank you for your time today.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And Andrews, thank you for the week. Thank you for
the call. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's a pleasure. Pleasures are mine and the audiences.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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