6 LISTENER AUGUST 10 2019
LETTERS
Blasts from the past
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I nearly missed a broadcast on
Sunday morning, December
22, of personal messages from
the boys overseas through our
radio unit. When the show
started I feared a succession
of “educated” voices, saying
“Greetings to the pater”. When
I heard, “Hullo Mum and
Dad”, I was so delighted.
RBM
(Wellington, January 10, 1941)
As a regular listener to the
radio magazine With the Boys
Overseas, may I suggest that a
member of the Maori Forces
should participate in the above
programme? The recent battles
of Greece and Crete, where
our Maori boys fought bravely,
was a very anxious moment
for their parents and relatives,
and I think it would be most
consoling to them if even only
one member of the Maori
Forces Overseas were allowed
to address the Maori people
as a whole through the radio
magazine.
H Paora
(Te Kaha, Opotiki, August 1, 1941)
HER MAJESTY SAYS THANKS
The specially bound copy of
the Christmas Number of the
New Zealand Listener has just
been received here, and I have
the Queen’s command to
express her thanks ... for your
thoughtfulness.
Her Majesty has read with
pleasure and appreciation
Along with many other
faithful readers, may I wish
you a happy birthday and
say thanks for 45 years of
reading. I subscribed when
I bought my first flat in
Wellington, and got a colour
TV at the same time. The
only breaks have been when
I was studying in the US and
working in China for seven
years.
Joanne Black’s penultimate
Bulletin from Washington
DC prompted me to write
because, knowing the US cap-
ital, I shall miss her insights
and humorous comments.
Now Bill Ralston (Life) has
joined the grumpy-old-men
brigade, I find I agree with
him more than before. Also,
having helped milk a friend’s
cows for 40 years, I can appre-
ciate the efforts of Good Life’s
Michele Hewitson and Greg
Dixon to cope with country
matters as ex-city folk.
My book, theatre and
music tastes are orthodox and
classical so I seldom agree
with your reviewers, but you
have to cater for all tastes, so
keep up the heroic efforts.
Our “gang of four”, who
used to do the crossword
over fish and chips at Friday
lunchtimes, has now dwin-
dled to two who confer by
phone. My older friend can
even do the cryptic, but I
maintain one has to have a
twisted mind for that.
So, thank you for yourefforts. You keep me thinking
about many of the big issues.
David Speary
(Northcote, Auckland)Where would we be without
the Listener? Far less informed
and far less entertained. For
as long as I can remember, it
has kept us reliably up to date
about all manner of aspects
of life in this country – and
abroad. Long may the maga-
zine flourish.
Dame Patsy Reddy,
Governor-GeneralThe Listener is the first thing
I’ve always looked for at
the newsstand – along with
RNZ, it’s one of two things in
New Zealand I couldn’t live
without.
Sam Neill, actorI’ve always loved quizzes and
the only way to get better at
them is by doing them. The
Listener puzzles are like high-
altitude training for quizzers.
Mike Nahu, NZ champion pub
quiz captainFor me, the Listener has
always been synonymous
with quality journalism,
insight and entertainment.
The columnists provide in-
depth coverage and opinions,
giving us the benefit of
their maturity and years of
experience – although I may
not always share their views.
My favourites are Clare deLore, Jane Clifton and Paul
Thomas.
John Hart, former All Blacks coachThe Listener is an iconic
magazine, with leading com-
mentary on current affairs,
matters of public interest,
education and any number
of serious issues. The Editorial,
Jane Clifton’s Politics and Paul
Thomas’ essays and Sport are
first-reads. How does Pamela
Stirling maintain the consist-
ently high quality?
Dame Alison and the Hon Barry
PatersonI read the Listener because
it is unafraid to push the
boundaries and challenge the
status quo, as my colleagues
and I do in our cancer work.
The magazine provides a
constant supply of thought-
provoking articles, columns
and editorials, along with in-
depth profiles and insightful
reviews. I’ve been a reader for
years and will remain one as
long as my eyes allow!
Dr Swee Tan, Gillies McIndoe
Research Institute founder and
executive directorThe Listener is weekly relief
from detritus masquerading
as daily news. I always find
items to make me laugh.
It is my transition to the
weekend, read on a Friday
evening. I trust I will enjoy it
for the rest of my life.
Marilyn Waring, former MPHappy birthday, Listener