Media Releases

Wallace Chapman to host Sunday Morning

Released at 11:41 am on 21 December 2013

Radio New Zealand has announced the appointment of Wallace Chapman as the new host for Sunday Morning on Radio New Zealand National, replacing Chris Laidlaw who presents his final programme tomorrow, Sunday 22nd December.

An experienced and multi-faceted broadcaster, Wallace Chapman has previously been a breakfast host at Auckland’s 95bFM and KiwiFM and a presenter on talk station Radio Live.

He is the presenter of the former TVNZ7 pub politics show ‘Back Benches’,now on Prime, and is well-known as a public speaker and facilitator, moderating the highly regarded series Smart Talk at the Auckland Museum – a panel discussion broadcast on Radio New Zealand National.

Chapman, who takes up the role early in the New Year, says he is excited by the challenge and honoured to be part of the team:

"I have long been a fan of Sunday Morning so the opportunity to host the show represents a dream realized. Chris Laidlaw’s shoes are big shoes to fill, and Radio New Zealand is a powerhouse of quality broadcasting in this country, so I am honoured to be a part of the line-up for 2014 and beyond."

Radio New Zealand Networks Presentation Manager, John Howson, says the appointment provides an opportunity to review the current programme format and to explore options for new content.

Chris Laidlaw has presented Sunday Morning on Radio New Zealand National for more than a decade. He announced his decision to retire following recent local body elections when he was elected to both the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Capital and Coast District Health Board.

Sunday Morning on Radio New Zealand National has a live listening audience of more than 200,000 people.