Simon Barnett to depart More FM after 20 years; joining Newstalk ZB

Former Features Editor

New Zealand radio veteran Simon Barnett has announced he will be retiring from breakfast and music radio at the end of next year.

Over one quarter of a century of breakfast radio has finally led Barnett to call it a day, opting not to renew his contract with More FM and MediaWorks when it expires.

“I just do not have the inclination, desire and passion to keep going beyond the end of 2018,” he stated.

“I find getting up at 4.30am every morning less and less palatable and even though I am quite possibly the world’s most boring person I would like to have a social life again.”

Instead, he will be taking up a non-breakfast position as host on Newstalk ZB.

In terms of addressing why the announcement is being made so early, Barnett explained that it’s in order to “allow MediaWorks the greatest amount of time to find my replacement, which I have no doubt they will do very successfully”.

“Simon is an outstanding broadcaster and we are sorry that we will be losing him,” Group Content Director (Music Radio) Leon Wratt added.

“Simon will be hugely missed when he leaves More FM at the end of next year and on behalf of everyone at MediaWorks, I wish him the very best.”

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Clint
4 Jul 2017 - 8:18 pm

Big loss is Si for MediaWorks.
Did they try and keep him with a hosting slot on Radio Live I wonder, or was the temptation of ZB and more money (presumably) too good…

Leaves a big hole at breakfast for More, especially with how they have ruled the Chch ratings for years. The question now is what the do at breakfast. Move Lana and Jase to breakfast or bring Polly and Grant in off 18 months on Rova?

Or do they see it as the ideal time to shuffle JJ Dom and Randall over to an older skewing brand?

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