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Fair Go

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Not to be confused with the colloquial expression used in New Zealand and Australian culture.

Fair Go
GenreBusiness, Talk Show
Created byBrian Edwards
Presented byPippa Wetzell
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerNicola Russell
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes (with advertisements)
Original release
NetworkTVNZ 1
Release7 April 1977 (1977-04-07) –
13 May 2024 (2024-05-13)

Fair Go is a New Zealand consumer affairs television programme hosted by Pippa Wetzell. First aired in 1977, it was New Zealand's second longest-running local programme (after Country Calendar). It was also one of its highest-rated programmes, frequently placed high in the New Zealand TV Guide list of most viewed programmes. It aired its final episode on 13 May 2024.

Content and programming

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Fair Go features a mixture of investigative journalism and consumer affairs stories, based on the motto: "If you've been ripped off, short-changed or given the runaround and nobody wants to know...we do!"

Fair Go also held the annual Fair Go Ad Awards, in which the best and worst advertisements on New Zealand television are announced, and a competition to find the best 30-second video by New Zealand students is held.

History

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Fair Go began in 1977, the creation of presenter Brian Edwards and producer Peter Morritt.[1] At the time it was seen as breaking new ground. It would not simply deal with consumer issues, it would investigate complaints from viewers and if those complaints were justified, it would name names. The biggest fear at the time was that the programme would attract huge lawsuits. Lawyers were hired to check every word on the script and the fears turned out to be groundless.

The other novel factor in the show was the high personality profile of its presenters and reporters. Other more recent high-profile presenters include Kevin Milne, Kerre McIvor (née Woodham), Carol Hirschfeld, Rosalie Nelson, Liane Clarke, Greg Boyed and Simon Mercep.

When Fair Go began it was shown in two 10- to 12-week seasons each year. But with the popularity of the show, and the huge number of complaints sent into the programme, it was decided in 1993 to produce one long season which would run for almost the entire year.

As the show matured, the complaints it dealt with involved higher stakes. Fair Go's biggest cash settlement was for over $350,000. There have been several other settlements involving six figure sums. However, the show will go into battle for as little as one cent (and has), if the issue behind the dispute is an interesting one. Fair Go has always considered entertainment and humour as suitable partners for its more investigative work.

In March 2024 it was proposed that Fair Go will be ending the following May due to a TVNZ restructure after experiencing financial difficulties.[2] This news was confirmed in April 2024.[3] Fair Go aired its final episode on 13 May 2024, with host Pippa Wetzell and the rest of the Fair Go team bidding farewell to viewers.[4]

The Fair Go brand now operates as a four person current affairs team which makes content for TVNZ’s on-demand service.

Cast and crew

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As of April 2024, current reporters for the show, along with the two hosts, are Alistar Kata, Kaitlin Aldridge, Gill Higgins and Garth Bray.[5][6]

Kevin Milne ONZM had worked on Fair Go from 1984 until 2010.[7]

Legacy

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Although Fair Go does no longer exist as a television show, it still has a Facebook page where those who feel underrepresented or "ripped off" can still submit cases to them in an attempt to uphold consumer rights.

In May 2024, TVNZ promised the Fair Go brand will live on — with a new four-person long-form consumer and current affairs team to make content for TVNZ's digital platforms.[10]

Awards

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In 1997, Fair Go was awarded a Bravo award by the New Zealand Skeptics for "poking a little of their irrepressible fun at alleged psychics providing lucky lotto numbers."[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fair Go | Series | Television | NZ On Screen".
  2. ^ "Live: Staff in tears - TVNZ dumping Sunday, Fair Go, two daily news bulletins". The New Zealand Herald. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  3. ^ Shepherd, Simon (10 April 2024). "TVNZ to dump Fair Go, two news bulletins". Newshub. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Fair Go show final: 'It's not over — we will still be here'". 1 News. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Fair Go". TVNZ+. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Credits: Fair Go". NZ On Screen. NZ On Air. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Kevin Milne | NZ On Screen".
  8. ^ "Surviving depression: Matt Chisholm's brave decision to quit TV". Stuff.co.nz. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. ^ Grant, Frances (27 March 2002). "Crusading for the little guy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Fair Go show final: 'It's not over — we will still be here'". 1News. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Bravo Awards". New Zealand Skeptics. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
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