I love Wellington for lots of reasons, even on a day like today when the mist is down and the wind is howling.  I love waking up and seeing the Wilton hills.  I love the view of  the harbour as I come down Orangi Kaupapa Rd, I love the reaction of non-Wellingtonians to driving down Orangi Kaupapa! I love getting my coffee from Sammy at Doria.  I could go on.

But most of all I love the quirks of Wellington people.  At a cottage meeting last night in Wadestown, we had a spirited discussion on a range of issues from education, to environment to justice to migration.  But the crowd truly came alive when it was noted that Sean Plunket was planning to leave Radio NZ.  An animated and concerned conversation broke out around the room.  And what is more Geoff is set to retire.  NO! This matters.

I fall into the camp that sees Sean as being like the little girl from Longfellow’s nursery rhyme; when he is good he is very good, but when he is bad he is horrid.  He can be incisive and terrier like with his questioning.  Equally he can come off rude and boorish,  and push irrelevant lines simply to prove a point to himself.  But I will miss him, and his yin to Geoff’s measured, sardonic yang.   Geoff’s retirement when it comes will be hard to reconcile.  I have memories going back to him and Peter Sledmere providing the backdrop to family breakfasts.

So, who will step up to the breakfast plate at RNZ?  Nominations welcome- I will be sure to ask for them at future cottage meetings.