Popular More FM host crossing the strait
With a breezy ‘‘Kia ora, good morning’’, More FM Nelson’s morning host Katrina Smith signed on to her last live shift in Nelson yesterday.
The long-serving radio announcer is moving to Wellington, where she will host the 10am-2pm show on The Breeze, which is also part of Mediaworks.
Smith has been with More FM since 2001.
Taking a minute to reflect on her 12 years in Nelson before her last shift yesterday, she said she was sad to leave but was looking forward to living in Wellington, where a lot of her family live.
‘‘Saying goodbye to my friends in the most beautiful part of New Zealand is going to be difficult, but the opportunity to be closer to my family in the capital city was something I couldn’t resist.’’
Smith is well known in Nelson, and not just for her distinctive voice on the airwaves.
The bubbly presenter has been the MC at many events, including Purple Cake Day, Race Unity Day, Marchfest and Opera in the Park. She has also been involved in various musical groups, including the Nelson Ukulele Orchestra, the Nelson Civic Choir, the Mojo Funk Orchestra and the Nancies.
She was also the deputy chair of Nelsonbased charity First Steps Himalaya, providing early childhood education in Nepal.
One of her first on-air memories here is of going to Richmond with fellow presenter Al Columbus, dressed in togas to do an Ides of March spoof of Roman plays.
September 11, 2001 is a work day burned into her memory from her first year in Nelson.
Mediaworks Nelson general manager Christine Hatton said Smith would be a huge loss to More FM and to Nelson, but she was going to her dream job.
Smith’s Facebook page has had a lot of messages wishing her luck.
One said she had touched a lot of people’s lives and created lots of smiles.
‘‘Nelson is a richer, happier place because of you! I hope Wellington realises the treasure we are passing on.’’