Robert Trathen
There’s that phrase “like mother, like daughter”. Then there’s Brodie and Jo Kane.
When the Weekly Zooms through to have a chat to the mile-a-minute pair, they’re in the middle of a rollicking conversation around Brodie’s recent elimination from TV show The Traitors NZ.
“You don’t watch enough reality TV,” admonishes Jo. “You could have been a bit more subtle, you know.” Turning to face the screen, Jo sighs, “I thought she would have been better at The Traitors with the things she got up to in her teenage years!”
“I shot my shot too early,” shrugs Brodie. “Those bloody boys!”
While that might be the first time the words “subtle” and “Brodie” have been used in the same sentence for a while (“very true,” nods Brodie), the mum-and-daughter double act is a delightful one as they reel off their shared to-do list around selling the family home in Waikuku Beach, in preparation for Jo to move up to Auckland.
It’s the start of a new chapter for both Brodie, 37, and Jo, 68, who can’t wait to live in the same city again and, as Jo says, it’s time for a big change after going through a later-in-life separation from Brodie’s dad.
Mum Jo thought Brodie’s teenage antics would have seen her go further on The Traitors.
“This is my saying at the moment: ‘If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you always got.’ Now I want to do my OE. I want to spend time with my grandkids – my son’s kids. There’s so much I want to do and the time is now.
“At my age, you can get a bit too settled and get a bit complacent. I don’t feel like I’m reaching my potential right now and I found that I was using excuses like my knees to not do things. My knees are fine! And I know there’s lots I still need to accomplish, but I’m not doing them and I don’t know why. I think a new start will be the catalyst I need.
“And, of course, when you go through a separation, financially that can be tricky. So we’ll be joining our resources in Auckland and co-habitating – and it’ll be great!”
“Separate quarters, of course!” adds Brodie. “I’m really excited about it too. We have this fabulous relationship and as much as Waikuku Beach has been our home since I was seven, for Mum, the Auckland move makes sense. I know this might sound cold and callous, but it benefits both of us financially – but it’s a very privileged and unique position that we’re in to afford a house in the big smoke. Well, it took us selling two houses to be able to afford one in Auckland, but, ah well!”
The pair are used to living together after spending most of lockdown with each other – and, impressively, only had to use their time-out system twice. “We’d just hold our hands up and that meant that you had to remove yourself, with not one word spoken,” says Jo. “And we only used it twice – that’s brilliant!”
And while change is as good as a rest for Jo, she’ll also be using the move for a bit more anonymity in the big city after spending years as a local politician in Waikuku Beach.
“Look, I’m pretty ‘what you see is what you get’ and I’ll tell it like it is – and I do go into battle,” nods Jo. “Sometimes people have a perception of who I am and quite frankly, I’m sick of that. People think I’m polarising. Um, no actually. I’m strong.
“I know it sounds weird, but I’m really looking forward to being in Auckland where you can go anywhere and no one knows you!”
However, Jo’s managed to garner herself quite the fan base through Brodie, who often features her mum in her travels on her social media accounts. It’s through Jo – a woman who has swum the Cook Strait and competed in the Coast to Coast multiple times, including when she was 65 – that Brodie gets her thirst for adventure.
In fact, Brodie might be a little too like her mum – not that she’s complaining about it!
“There are times when I hear myself or look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘I’m turning into Jo Kane!” Brodie says with a smile. “We sound very similar and I even have this thing I’ve picked up from Mum – which I think she even picked up from her mum. When I’m concentrating, sometimes I’ll forget to breathe and then I’ll let out a grunty little breath when I realise. But hey, you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. What a woman to be like!”
Jo and Brodie have always had a tight relationship – even through the slightly rebellious teen years – and it’s something Jo has been determined to foster.
“We’re lucky, but I also think that you foster your relationships with your children,” tells Jo. “I’m always amazed when people don’t have a relationship with their parents. It makes me sad.
“You do have to work at it, like every relationship. But we talk every day – although that’s you checking that I’m still alive, right?” she grins at Brodie, who nods in agreement. “As you do when your parents live on their own – you have to check they haven’t checked out!
“My kids have pretty interesting lives and I love being a part of that. It’s pretty cool when your daughter is your best friend. Sometimes the roles are reversed and you think, ‘Jeez, who’s the mother here?!’
“And Brodie’s been very supportive going through the separation – it was hard for Brodie and my son as well, but the support they gave me was pretty amazing.”
And it also marks a new era for Brodie who, after several crazy but glorious years starting a media business, appearing on TV and travelling the world, is craving a more settled existence – and balancing the calm with the chaos.
“While Mum’s gearing up, I’m wanting to chill out,” she laughs. “It’s perfect really, we’ll meet in the glorious middle somewhere.
“What a woman to be like!” says Brodie, who’s passion for extreme sports and adventure was passed on from her mum.
“Trying to find a bit of balance in your life is always the dream, right? When Mum and I were talking through the moving plan, the word ‘unsettled’ kept coming up and I realised it’s time to put down some roots. I don’t think I’ve felt that for a long time – the last time I did would have been in Christchurch before the pandemic and I was working on radio. Since then, it’s been a bit in flux, so I think it’s time to slow down a little.
“And that’s not necessarily the kids and family and whatnot, but I have felt like something is missing – and that’s a settled space.”
Although that doesn’t mean a stop to the adventures. Long-distance running fan Brodie is gearing up for the Kepler Challenge – a 60km mountain course with an ascent and descent range of 1350 metres – while Jo is deciding how best to celebrate her upcoming 70th birthday. And no, it’s not going to be with a cocktail by the pool.
“God, no!” laughs Jo. “I might do a big cycle, kayak and walk.”
Quips Brodie, “It’ll be something like traversing the whole country! Mum’s always been so amazing and inspiring with how involved she is in sport and activity. I’m very grateful for it. All the swimming, the surf life-saving, the endurance events… Jo’s the ultimate endurance athlete!”
“Oh, look, some of my times weren’t bad,” shrugs Jo. “But what’s really excited me is watching Brodie – what she likes doing is the same as me, pushing yourself physically and mentally as far as you can. It’s been brilliant to see her take part in these things because I know how hard and wonderful it is. It’s pretty special.
“And to be honest, it’s inspiring for me. People talk about Brodie and Jo being like freight trains hurtling towards each other – the nickname HurriKane’s come up before! But, really, we’re on different tracks, side by side, racing. “Although she’s a lot faster than me these days!”
Watch The Traitors NZ on ThreeNow.
