The unpolished politician and the rough side of leadership | Tory Whanau

Linda Clark is a force. Her careers (plural) straddle law, broadcasting and journalism. She’s a multi-multi-hyphenate; journalist, advocate, advisor, litigator, facilitator, mentor. In short, if there's a mess to be cleaned up, she’s the go-to. Whip smart and widely respected, Linda is an award winning journalist. She’s been TVNZ’s political editor, RNZ’s Nine to Noon host, a television presenter, frequent media panellist and sought after political commentator. She left journalism (but...

Theresa Gattung CNZM has had a lifetime of leading. She’s one of New Zealand’s most successful business women and is constantly backing women and girls through @The Gattung Foundation and in her role as Chair of @Global Women. Where she sees need, she leads. She made her mark in business as NZ’s first female CEO of an NZX listed company when she headed Telecom. She co-founded My Food Bag and has been and continues to be chair of many high stakes boards. Now she’s left the boardroom she gets t...

Sir Ian Taylor is in his 70s but the ageless innovator is still a global Peter Pan when it comes to business and technology. Rather than rely on Neverland, Sir Ian has created his own magic in life. He went from a singer in a band to a TV presenter. Then he really started soaring when he pioneered new technology to make graphic animations for the world’s most prestigious sports, including the oldest sporting competition, The America’s Cup. If you watch sports, you’ll be watching S...

Angela Meyer’s all about change. But the one constant in her life is being revolutionary and a little outrageous. She doesn’t wear a cape (but has been known to wear a neon g-string) in her tireless battle to lift up the women of Aotearoa. Her life reads a bit like the plot of an action film…from cheating death on the high seas in a yacht with a toddler to peddling home STI kits, where the horny over 50s are a surprising, untapped but voracious market. She’s also done ground break...

This is deeply personal, for both women in this conversation. In 2023, brothers Danny & Roberto Jaz were jailed for offences including drink spiking, sexual violation and rape centred around Christchurch bar Mama Hooch. In 1998, the year Sophie Brown was born, host Amanda Millar exposed a sordid and perverse serial abuser in Christchurch who used power, access and status to abuse his victims. Why has nothing changed? Nine of the many women attacked at Mama Hooch gave ev...