One of New Zealand broadcasting’s most familiar and trusted names, Simon Dallow, is understood to be preparing to step down as TVNZ’s prime-time newsreader.
Well-placed sources have confirmed Dallow is planning his 6pm swansong, with the likelihood he will soon sign off from the bulletin for a final time, making way for a new face on the weekday bulletin at some stage in 2026. Whether that’s early or later in the year remains to be seen.
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Be sad to see him go but 20 years is a bloody good run, and he’s been there longer than Judy Bailey was. I’d like Wendy Petrie to get the 6pm job back but I think realistically it’ll be Melissa Stokes. (Maybe Wendy could replace her on weekends? That might be a decent compromise.)
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It’s official. Melissa Stokes will replace Simon Dallow as the new 1News 6pm weekday presenter.
For Simon, he will step down as 6pm weekday presenter at the end of this month in November. His last day is Friday November 28th.
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Sorry, but boring! I’ve never really enjoyed Melissa reading the news. Daniel Faitaua or Wendy would’ve been a much better pick.
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Yeah, I’d have preferred Wendy too. Actually I reckon she might take over the weekends.
I wonder if they will finally update the opener for 2026? 11 year old footage doesn’t exactly scream ‘news’. I’m not even asking for a full rebrand (because we won’t get one) but new titles would be very welcome.
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I’ve always loved it when Miriama Kamo fills in. She brings a whole new style that isn’t seen enough on tv anymore
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Disappointed in the replacement not going to lie.
Happy for Melissa she has worked hard and deserves this promotion. She is also a journalist and has spent time in the field, and from my point of view is able to adjust quickly and react in the moment which makes her better at breaking news.
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Agreed! Mel has done the long yards and will be a seamless transition as shes already well known to 1news and its viewers. Also given that most anchors of a 6pm bulletin also produce to an extent, Mel seems to be more qualified then others who, excel at reading the news, but lack personality and the news chops that they really should have.
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Not the most inspiring choice but well done to Melissa, as others have said, put in the work at TVNZ for many years.
Wendy would have been good back at 6pm, hopefully she gets weekends. It’s a good sign that she still fills in regularly, I thought the fill in gig would have been a temporary token gesture from TVNZ when her role got cut but it’s been years now. Jack Tame would have been wasted reading an autocue, his name often got thrown around as a 6pm successor.
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Jack Tame has been announced as the weekend presenter of One News,
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Fortunately
Tame will continue to host the Sunday morning current affairs programme Q+A.
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Suprised they’ve gone with him and not Wendy or Daniel Faitaua. Though I’m sure they’ll both fill in regularly. I guess if he’s around for Q+A it makes sense for him to do the weekend news as well. Greg Boyed used to do the same from time to time.
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Could be a sign his Sunday Morning gig might be nearing the end of it’s road?
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Was thinking they may just screen q & a later on in the day and film it early afternoon.
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Shayne Currie reports that Melissa will present Sun-Thu, with Jack presenting Fri-Sat. Apparently it was between Melissa and Daniel Faitaua over who got the weekday gig.
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Very Australian! So Melissa Sun-Thurs, Jack Friday and Saturday, and presumably Daniel, Wendy and maybe others filling in. Not too bad, I guess. Again, I’d have preferred Wendy but really it was always going to be Melissa. I suppose TVNZ want to make a clean break from the Simon and Wendy era, which is fair enough.
Melissa Stokes won a head-to-head battle with Daniel Faitaua to replace Simon Dallow as TVNZ’s 6pm weekday newsreader.
While several other staff were screen-tested by the state broadcaster, the decision on the weekday bulletin ultimately came down to Stokes or Faitaua.
Media Insider also understands that Faitaua, a father of three, did not put his name forward for the other two nights of the week, for personal reasons.
…
[Jack] Tame will also retain his Q+A role on Sundays, a critically important one for the state broadcaster, especially in an election year.
Stokes will work Sunday-Thursday.
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You would think that 1News would update in their own site if the change has been made, as the press release still states Mel to present Monday to Friday.
“With Melissa leading weekdays and Jack on weekends, 1News at Six has an exceptionally strong team in place - one that will serve our audience well."
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1 News/breakfast/te karere needs an entire new look, new music, some sort of minor update to the set even if just a new desk. Wipe the computers of any graphics and music that currently exist.
Breakfast needs to work out a proper formula. For years it just feels like there is no structure to the program it all feels so disjointed. Include a proper opening and intro sequence too and just quietly change the presenters lol
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A complete revamp is needed as does TVNZ on screen imagery.
Rename it to TVNZ News.
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