TV

Pippa Wetzell and Fair Go both celebrate turning 40

It's celebrations all round!
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Not so long ago turning 40 was the beginning of the end. Officially you were seen as being ‘over the hill’ and you might have been gifted a mug with those exact words on it – just in case it didn’t sink in. But these days, it’s a little different.

Co-host of Fair Go, Pippa Wetzell, and the popular show itself have both just turned 40, and it’s safe to say neither of them displays any signs of slowing down. In fact, Pippa says entering the new era has given her a new lease on life.

“I know everyone says this, but I don’t feel old,” she says laughing. “I can remember both of my parents’ 40th birthdays and I look back and I think ‘gosh, am I that person now?’ Because they were old. Our perspective has changed on what 40 is. It’s certainly not a mid-way point in your life anymore. I guess [at this age] people are still setting themselves goals and are still taking on challenges quite comfortably, without thinking ‘oh I’ve missed that boat’.”

For Pippa the 40s are heralding a brand new era, and if anything she sees it as something to celebrate.

“I was actually really excited to turn 40,” she says. “I had my oldest child just before I turned 30 and I remember trying to have a 30th birthday with a one-month-old. It just didn’t work. I was trying to be sociable and be this hostess, but all I could hear was her crying. My 30s have been lovely and I wouldn’t change them for the world. But it was the decade of babies and young children and chaos.”

“Turning 40 was a new chapter in a lot of ways.”

To share her birthday with New Zealand’s second longest-running TV show behind Country Calendar has also been pretty special for Pippa.

She says of Fair Go: “I think it just connects with people… I’m still really astounded at how many people come to us with really valid issues that should be resolved and haven’t. You still hear from a lot of people who’ll have a problem with someone and say ‘Sort this or I’ll contact Fair Go‘.”

The show will celebrate its milestone with two special shows, airing on February 5 and 12 at 7.30pm on TVNZ 1.

And to find out how Pippa celebrated her big 4-0 – as well as what’s in store for the year ahead for her – see the latest issue of NEXT magazine, on sale now.

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