Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Host of Nine To Noon

Kathryn Ryan grew up in Dunedin and has also lived in Christchurch, Napier and Wellington.

She took a circuitous route into journalism, which included completing a BA degree in History and Education, two years teacher training, and six years running a sports and recreation centre, before completing Canterbury University's post-graduate journalism course at the age of 27.

Over the last decade Kathryn has had wide-ranging journalism and broadcasting experience in the print, radio and television industries.

She joined RNZ in 1999 and spent six years reporting on Parliament in Radio New Zealand's Press Gallery office, the last three as Radio New Zealand's political editor, before taking up the Nine to Noon role in May 2006. She has also been a regular commentator on TVNZ's `Agenda' current affairs programme.

Kathryn has covered the last four general elections in various roles, but she is not just a political animal.

She exhibited an early interest in performing with impromptu comedy skits at school lunchtimes, specialising in imitations of her teachers.

During her youth she had ten years stage experience in speech, drama and singing, and she pursued an active sports career until journalism took over.

Kathryn is an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, and enjoys writing poetry and short stories.

She has travelled widely throughout New Zealand and visited around 20 countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, as well as the United States.

Her other interests include movies, good food and wine, the great outdoors, walking and sea swimming.