The lights were bright, the audience buzzing and for the first time in more than 18 months, Paddy Gower was back behind the desk of Paddy Gower Has Issues. But despite his reputation as one of the country’s most fearless broadcasters, he wasn’t afraid to admit he was nervous. This was more than just another TV show: it was the result of months of risk, resilience and an unwavering belief that his hit current affairs show deserved a second life.
“Filming was a little emotional, but now that it has been released, it’s really emotional because it’s becoming more real,” admits the 48-year-old.
“People are watching it and commenting, and it’s honestly the best feeling. I missed it more than I realised.”
After Newshub collapse
Paddy had just started work on a new season of Issues when Newshub suddenly collapsed in early 2024. He was one of hundreds of journalists left without work. But he wasn’t ready to let the show die. Determined that Issues should live on, he approached Warner Bros. Together with his co-producer Jon Bridges, he took a leap of faith: they formed their own production company and applied for funding from NZ On Air.
Then came a crushing blow. The very day Newshub closed its doors for good was also the day Paddy learned his funding application had been declined. To add salt to the wound, it made national headlines.
“It was all very public,” Paddy laments.
“I lost my job and got turned down for funding on the same day. It was in the headlines – that’s all part of life as a public figure – but it did hurt.”
A second chance with NZ On Air
Still, giving up was never an option. Paddy and Jon reworked their pitch, went back to NZ On Air and this time, they won the support they needed. Determined to give others a lifeline too, he set about rehiring as many of his friends and former colleagues as possible, including sidekick Karen O’Leary, who once again tackles the smaller issues facing everyday Kiwis.
“I feel really privileged because I know what other people are going through,” says Paddy.
“We’ve been able to employ a lot of my friends and colleagues who have been struggling to get work all this time.”
While he’s passionate about tackling the nation’s issues, Paddy isn’t afraid to turn the spotlight on himself. It’s been almost four years since he gave up drinking. He laughs as he admits that, like a true Kiwi bloke, the only time he misses a cold beer is while watching the rugby. Sobriety hasn’t just given him clarity and drive for his work – it’s sparked a bigger wellness journey.
Unlocking wellness through sobriety
“I do yoga, I go to the gym, I ride my bike, I watch what I eat,” he shares.
“All those things have come out of sobriety for me. I feel like I’ve unlocked the wellness door with sobriety.”
He’s even begun working with wellness coach Pete Bristow, something the old Paddy would have scoffed at.
“A few years ago, I would have mocked anyone I knew who saw a wellness coach,” Paddy admits.
“What I would say to my old self is that if you’re lucky enough to be able to do something like this, there’s no shame in asking for help.”
Tackling a new addiction
That openness to change has also helped him confront another bad habit. Earlier this year, Paddy realised he was hooked on his phone. When Pete offered to step in, he jumped at the chance to tackle his “brain rot” habits. But breaking up with his screen, he says, is proving more challenging than giving up alcohol.
“I had such an addiction to doom-scrolling and wasting time sitting on my bed watching Instagram stories,” explains Paddy.
“With booze, you go, ‘I’m an alcoholic, no more alcohol.’ Which is what I did. But you can’t go, ‘I’m a phone addict, no more phone.’ You have to go no more doom- scrolling or social media. It’s hard to know where to draw the line.”
For Paddy, trading booze for wellness and doom-scrolling for clarity has been about more than self-improvement. It’s about learning to live in the present.
“If I’ve learned anything from the closure of Newshub, it’s that having goals for the future is incredible, but you’ve got to enjoy the moment. “I used to be in such a hurry, but now I want things to slow down. It would be nice if this Paddy Gower Has Issues phase lasted forever.”
Paddy Gower Has Issues screens Tuesdays at 7.30pm on Three and streams on ThreeNow.
