Tenacious broadcaster Susan Wood has always put her two sons first, but now it seems she will be their primary focus as they help their much-loved mother to rehabilitate after suffering a sudden, serious head injury at her Auckland home.
Susan was taken to Auckland Hospital on January 10 after, it is understood, she fell down a flight of stairs at home. In a statement, her two sons Alex (24) and Matt (21) confirmed Susan is recovering after being discharged from hospital, and praised the efforts of the medical staff who cared for their mother.
“We thank all involved in her care at Auckland Hospital for their dedication, their expertise and their humanity,” they said. “Their treatment of our mother was outstanding. We also appreciate the concern and goodwill shown by others.”

Susan Wood’s sons Alex (24) and Matt (21) are supporting her on her road to recovery.
Susan, who is currently the host of TV One’s Q+A and a presenter on Newstalk ZB, took a step back from her busy TV career in 2006.
She’d been fronting shows including TV One’s Breakfast and Close Up, but took time out to focus on her health and family after suffering a scare which she claimed was a “wake-up call”. Susan had discovered a lump on her neck. Thankfully, surgery two weeks later showed the lump was benign – a huge relief.
“I was so tired and run down,” Susan revealed at the time. “I left TVNZ the week before the surgery. They took half my thyroid out.”
Since the surgery, Susan has focused on leading a holistic, healthy life, saying she concentrates on sleeping well, eating healthily and keeping fit – including taking classes at the gym, walking her Labrador Charlie, and skiing during the winter months.
As she told the Weekly in 2011, her time out of the spotlight also enriched her life with her two sons, who she raised largely as a single parent. “Parenting’s always been top of my list,” she said. “Although, as the children get older, it’s more about just being there.” Matt, who she describes as a critical thinker, and Alex, with his “big social conscience”, were both home for Christmas with Susan, along with a wider family that included her ex-husband Duncan.

There is no timeframe at the moment for when Susan, Q+A presenter, will be returning to work.
Now, the family are focused on Susan’s recovery, buoyed by the outpouring of love and strength from those close to her. A TVNZ spokesperson says the company was saddened to hear of the accident, and are committed to supporting Susan in her recuperation. “We don’t have a timeframe at the moment for when she’ll be returning to work. We will be giving her as long as she needs. Susan is a much respected and admired member of our newsroom,” a statement read.
Susan’s Q+A co-host and friend Corin Dann has said he is “gutted for her, and [I] hope she can make a speedy recovery”. Fellow TVNZ colleague Toni Street told viewers she and Mike Hosking – whom Susan often fills in for on Newstalk ZB – were shocked by the news and wished her and her family the very best with her recovery. “She is a super-smart, incredibly strong lady, and we expect she’ll be fighting back as soon as she can,” said Toni.