Thursday 23 March 2023 1:57pm
Radio One breakfast host Jamie Green is leaving the station after 15 years there.
After 15 years at Radio One 91FM, breakfast host Jamie Green is calling it a day.
Green first got involved with Ōtepoti’s student radio station in 2008. He says he had been working on a 48-Hour Film Competition film, and ended up befriending one of the actors, “a young Aaron Hawkins” who was the radio station’s breakfast host at the time.
Green spent about six months hanging out at the station studio, rolling posters and getting to know people, when then-station manager Lesley Paris offered him a show.
“I’d never even thought about being on radio, I just really loved the space and the community and the people that were here. There was a really great energy, it was really vibrant. It led to me getting more into the local music scene.”
Feeling passionate about what was going on around him got him excited about doing his own a show.
In 2013 Hawkins left and Green became the new breakfast host.
“I was shocked I got the job . . . it meant everything to me.”
It was a challenge initially, he says, going from one show a week to five, but it also became another way for him connect even more with Ōtepoti’s music scene.
“It was really special to be a part of that.”
Radio One station manager, Sean Norling, left, with departing breakfast host Jamie Green, and technical manager Jon Bakos, holding Charlie.
Over the years he has interviewed many well-known artists, but the standout interviews for him were with the young musicians coming in to talk about the release of their first song.
Watching young artists grow and evolve, and being able to play a small part in their career by promoting them and giving them experience of being live on air meant a lot to him.
“It’s a small impact but I’m really proud of that. Just being able to foster young talent.”
He prides himself on being able to ask interesting questions and getting people to have exciting conversations with him.
“Just going on journeys with people, I’m really going to miss that, that’s the thing that I love the most. I love playing music but it’s the artists I like to talk to.”
He was also grateful to all the University’s academic staff he has interviewed over the years.
“I’ve learned a lot.”
Station manager Sean Norling says Green will be missed, not just by those at the station, but also by all who tuned in to his show.
“He brought a really cheeky, fun energy to the station.”
For his last show on Friday, 24 March Green plans on playing many songs he normally wouldn’t, including some “90s SoCal punk and early 90s New York hip hop”.
Green is taking on a role at the Ministry of Social Development and hopes to make the people he is assisting feel welcome and empowered.
- Korero by internal communications adviser, Koren Allpress