Veteran journalist likes taking ‘big view of life’

There have been times in Richard Griffin’s journalism career when he says it’s felt like he should be paying someone to do it.

Griffin, pictured, who until recently chaired the Radio New Zealand (RNZ) board, has been named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

During his time at RNZ, from 2011 until this year, Griffin oversaw the national broadcaster extending its reach into multimedia. As a result, RNZ’s web services have seen a significant leap in traffic.

He also oversaw development of The Wireless, RNZ’s online service for youth, and was instrumental in increasing RNZ’s baseline funding in the 2017 Budget. Griffin, who now lives in Mapua, said he was truly grateful to those who put his name forward for the honour. He was also thankful that the current coalition Government ‘‘apparently does not harbour a grudge’’ after his recent clash with Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran over former RNZ executive Carol Hirschfeld. As a past Radio NZ political editor and a life member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, Griffin was chief press secretary and media advisor to Jim Bolger during his term as prime minister from 1993 to 1998.

Griffin started in journalism in the mid-1970s. ‘‘It does give you a big view of life, and that’s what I’ve loved about it.’’