How a ‘Long Lunch’ Almost Cost TV Boss Holmes His Career

Holmes revolutionized the landscape of short-form television current affairs in New Zealand.

Inside the Show’s Evolution

Reporter Cameron Bennett offers insights into the show’s beginnings.

Launched in 1989 with a dramatic first episode, Holmes quickly became must-watch television for Kiwis, drawing in everyone from government officials to everyday local heroes.

The program represented a notable shift in TVNZ’s approach to its key informational broadcasts.

News leaders took a chance on the dynamic and talented Paul Holmes to host a new evening magazine format, inspired by Channel 9’s ‘A Current Affair’. This included three segments: revealing news exclusives, interviews with key figures, and human interest stories.

The production team, consisting of some of the most significant personalities in television news, was carefully curated by Producer Paul Cutler.

Nevertheless, Paul Holmes set the show’s distinctive tone with his unique skill set, ranging from directly challenging politicians to forging genuine connections with everyday New Zealanders, all underpinned by his quirky humor.

The show kicked off in a spectacular fashion. An iconic exclusive interview with America’s Cup legend Dennis Connor ended abruptly, resulting in significant viewer interest and outrage—a rarity in New Zealand television.

Reflections on the Landmark Interview

In a recent discussion with 1News, Cameron Bennett and former Executive Producer Paul Cutler revisited that groundbreaking interview.

Cutler described it as a “class act,” highlighting the high expectations surrounding its potentially confrontational nature.

“There was an anticipation that it would be a combative interview like never seen on TVNZ before.” he mentioned. With Connor being a fiercely competitive sailor, the producers were ready for anything.

The 1988 America’s Cup was marked by a significant mismatch. Connor had been helming a catamaran against New Zealand’s larger vessel, leading to accusations of disrespect.

He infamously remarked, “I’m sailing a cat, someone else is sailing a dog,” drawing even more attention to the situation.

Although the cup was initially awarded to New Zealand due to claims that the contest lacked the spirit of friendly competition, that decision was later overturned.

Cutler recounted a “long lunch” that Connor and Bennett attended, leading to concerns that he might act out during the live interview.

“Bennett warned me, ‘Connor’s had a long lunch’. I instinctively knew that tensions were high after the earlier confrontation with Bruce Farr.”

He then instructed the cameraman to be ready—something that would later prove essential, with Connor attempting to leave the interview while clips were aired.

“The director wisely cut back to Connor, capturing him returning to his chair just as he realized he was still on camera,” Cutler recalled.

Following that explosive interview, Bennett shared that they faced significant criticism, with many feeling the approach was inappropriate.

However, the management stood firmly behind them, leading to a fresh strategy for short-form current affairs in New Zealand.

By Cameron Bennett and 1News reporters