Duncan Garner


Duncan Garner is a New Zealand radio and television host and journalist. He took over the Radio Live drive slot in December 2012 and was previously the 3 News political editor in Wellington. He moved to host The AM Show in 2017, which was broadcast on TV3 and Radio Live.

Early life

Garner was born on 8 March 1974 and attended Westlake Boys High School. He studied for a communications degree at Auckland Technical Institute.

Journalism career

He started his career as a reporter for Television New Zealand in 1995, working on the current affairs show Holmes from 2000 to 2002.
Garner then moved to rival TV3 in 2003. He broke the story of a NZ$195,000 golden handshake that Labour Party MP John Tamihere received leaving the Waipareira Trust in October 2004. The story prompted an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, which caused Tamihere to resign from Cabinet. Tamihere was later cleared of financial impropriety, and the story won Garner the 2004 Qantas Media Award for Television News Reporter - Politics.
In August 2008, three months before the New Zealand general election, Garner broadcast audio tapes secretly recorded at a National Party cocktail party by Kees Keizer. The tapes caught deputy leader Bill English saying he would sell Kiwibank, and MP Lockwood Smith saying National had to adopt policies the party did not like in order not to scare voters. The broadcast earned Garner a nomination for Best News Reporting in the 2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards.
In March 2010, TV3 launched the weekend current affairs program The Nation, with Garner as co-host.
In the wake of the 2010 MPs expenses scandal, Labour Party politician Chris Carter alleged that Garner had a vendetta against him. The head of TV3 news and current affairs Mark Jennings replied saying Garner did not have a grudge, and "Carter is a serial offender on expenses... it's Duncan's job to shine the light on that."
In 2013, Garner hosted two new current affairs shows on TV3 – 3rd Degree and The Vote.

Awards

Garner was in a relationship with television journalist Mihingarangi Forbes for nine to ten years until 2008 and they have two daughters. As at 2010 Garner also had a child from another relationship. Garner was married to Deanna Delamere for six years until they separated in 2018 and they have a son.