Patrick Gower, affectionately known as Paddy, is a renowned New Zealand journalist celebrated for his vibrant personality and exceptional communication skills. He began his journalism career as a night shift reporter at the New Zealand Herald, where he quickly made a name for himself.
Patrick later joined TV3, known as Newshub, where he covered issues of both national and international significance. He spent a decade in the Parliamentary Press Gallery as Newshub's Political Editor, covering four Prime Ministers and three different Governments. Patrick’s tenure at Newshub included moderating the Newshub leader’s debates in the 2017 and 2020 elections and questioning Donald Trump during the US Election. His reporting took him to diverse locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kiribati.
Patrick hosted the current affairs show "Paddy Gower Has Issues," where he tackled real stories about real Kiwis. His emotional and informative two-part documentary, "Patrick Gower: On Weed," played a pivotal role in educating New Zealanders on the cannabis legalization debate. The success of this documentary led to the "Patrick Gower: On..." series, including "On Booze," which offered a deeply personal insight into his struggles with alcohol.
Patrick has written a book titled "This is the Fucking News." After losing his job as a journalist, Patrick pivoted to becoming an author. The book covers his 25 years in the news industry, from his early days as a cub reporter at the New Zealand Herald to his final days at Newshub. It explains the origins of the "this is the f#$%ing news" meme, delves into the pressures of reporting in Parliament, and shares his journey of rehabilitation.
The book also addresses his personal battles, including giving up alcohol and managing his own mental health issues. Patrick describes it as "my story," revealing where he draws his motivation from. He believes it portrays an ordinary person striving to do their best in both career and life, hoping readers will find something valuable in his experiences.
After more than 20 years in journalism, Patrick continues to influence and inspire with his insights on resilience and his compelling stories from a life dedicated to uncovering the truth. Patrick has recently joined Stuff, where he continues to cover significant national and international issues.
Talking Points
Keynote
Paddy Gower shares a deeply personal and inspiring keynote that dives into the pivotal moments of his life and mental health journey. Through candid storytelling and reflections on the remarkable individuals he’s encountered, Paddy explores themes of connection, purpose, and regaining control amidst life’s challenges. As he embarks on a new chapter with a fresh sense of purpose, with his latest book forming the backdrop of his talk.
Keynote
Paddy was fantastic at working a room, he introduced himself to all the wait staff pre-event, and met everyone of our 40 attendees during dinner before making his speech. He referenced some ... keep reading Electricity Networks Aotearoa
Paddy was a fantastic MC and impressed from the outset. He took time to really understand our audience and injected the right dose of natural wit and humour into our two day event, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout. With his relaxed style and candid approach he managed proceedings effortlessly and was delightful to work with. Paddy was a brilliant choice for our conference
Paddy was an excellent MC for our Business Awards. He mixed and mingled with the audience the entire night and was only too happy to pose for photos with the guests.
Paddy was fantastic to work with leading up to and during the event. He was really interested in the event we were creating and very enthusiastic about the topics and content. He was very professional and his delivery on the day was exceptional. Our audience have provided fantastic feedback about him and the content that he delivered.
Knowledge, passion, and soul – a rare and powerful combination that Paddy embodies effortlessly. His deep understanding, combined with his genuine compassion, makes him not just a speaker, but an experience that leaves a lasting impact on everyone who hears him.
