Story: Television

The mainland touch

From 1965 to 1970 there were four regional shows in the main centres under the title Town and around. With the arrival of networked television in 1970 these popular programmes were abandoned. However, when South Pacific Television and TV One came together in 1980, the new TVNZ revived regional shows. Once again they were based in the four main centres, but each had its own title – Top half in Auckland, Today tonight in Wellington, The mainland touch in Christchurch and The south tonight in Dunedin. These shows had a light, breezy style, and became popular. The mainland touch had a strong following in Christchurch, and presenters Bryan Allpress and Rodney Bryant became well known. The characteristic light-hearted style of the programme is well exemplified by this segment from October 1988 in which the Wizard of Christchurch protests against Telecom's decision to paint telephone boxes in the company's corporate colour of blue. The reporter in this clip is Rob Cope-Williams.

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TVNZ Television New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Trisha Dunleavy, 'Television - News and current affairs', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/45692/the-mainland-touch (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Trisha Dunleavy, published 22 Oct 2014