TRUDI NELSON
The Magic breakfast announcer even charms the kiwifruit in her orchard!
The song I listen to when I need a pick-me-up is...
Always a song from our awesome retro Magic playlist. And it has to be Abba (anything) for an automatic mood lifter. Or if I’m feeling more mellow, some James Taylor. I love his song You Got a Friend – play it at my funeral, please.
My comfort food is...
Crispy grilled New Zealand lamb chops, creamy mash, steamed peas and gravy. Kiwi goodness! I grow my own spuds and peas, but stop short at the lamb.
My favourite on-air moment is...
I was on the Markby & McRae breakfast show and John [Markby] dared me to shave my long blonde hair off for charity – live on air! I said, “If we can raise money for leukaemia NZ, then we’re good to go.” We raised more than $5000 and off it went. I was bald for the birth of my first child. My hubby wasn’t so impressed!
The shop I can’t walk past is...
Recycle Boutique. I love, love, love pre-loved designer and retro stuff! You always uncover a find.
The thing that always makes me laugh...
My three sons. Honestly, boys are the best. They range in age from 25 to 13 and I reckon I’m the luckiest mum on the planet. Boys rule! Be nicer to them, please ladies. They don’t hang onto stuff like us chicks tend to.
The achievement I’m most proud of...
I’ve managed to stay and achieve in radio since I was 16 – I started in as a KCC FM Cheerleader, to promos, to ad-scheduler, to on air! I eventually found my way onto a breakfast show with the amazing Blackie. I love my job and that saying “Do a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” is so true for me. I’ve also just bought a little organic kiwifruit orchard for balance. I sing and talk in my radio voice to them, and they’re growing at a rate of knots!
My favourite place to holiday in New Zealand is...
Ngunguru, the best-kept secret in Northland. Bliss! I also feel like I’m on holiday at my orchard in Te Puna. I’m always outside there, which balances my studio, MC and voiceover life really well. We’ve named it Mawhiti, which is te reo for escape.
The series I’m bingeing right now is...
This is a bit lame, but I’m not really a watch-lots-of-telly girl. I always see Newshub at 6.- But the last series I binged was Money Heist. And I do love myself a bit of American Pickers for its collectable bargains.
When I was a child, I wanted to grow up and...
Be on the radio! How lucky am I that the dream came true. I was teased at school because of my Aussie accent – I grew up in Queensland – and I would go home from school each day and practice my Kiwi accent in the mirror, listening to the local radio station... And now look!
I feel very privileged to have my radio career for so long. And thanks to some girl for pushing me over at Whang¯arei Intermediate in Form 2 because I spoke funny in her mind. That drove me to the wonderful career I have today! In fact, my proudest moment when I tipped my cap to that bully was becoming the TV3 and More FM corporate voice. I also narrated every series of Married at First Sight NZ – now that I binge-watched!
Listen to Trudi from 7-10am Sunday mornings on Magic.