Bill Ralston

Bill Ralston's career in New Zealand print and broadcast media spans several decades and mediums. His strongly expressed views have made him a controversial, but always interesting broadcasting figure.

William Grantley Ralston studied politics and history for his Bachelor of Arts at Auckland University. At age 19 he successfully stood for council in the Northcote borough. Soon after, he appeared in this television interview, handling the press for those on board the yacht Fri, which was protesting French nuclear testing. 

In 1979 Ralston joined second channel South Pacific Television as a cadet. The following year, when the two channels were reorganised under the mantle Television New Zealand, he worked as a general news reporter in Christchurch and Wellington.

In 1981 Ralston was seconded by TVNZ to the BBC for six months, and worked as a reporter for a Welsh news programme in Cardiff. He returned to TVNZ in 1982, joining the parliamentary press gallery as a political correspondent for One News.

During his time with TVNZ, Ralston faced off against Prime Minister Rob Muldoon, and rushed to get footage on-screen during the 1981 Springbok tour. In the mid 80s he became a foreign correspondent; he reported for TVNZ from across Asia, and was shot at in a Soweto school during a 1986 rebel Cavaliers tour of South Africa.  

Ralston spent two years as a reporter for TV1 current affairs programme Frontline, before joining new channel TV3 as Political Editor. Ralston would be at the channel for five years. During his time there he hosted a 10-minute current affairs slot for TV3's 6pm news bulletin, while offering a far more irreverent take on politics on late night show Nightline — introducing his slot with the infamous catch-cry "Yo Nightliners". Clips and memories from Ralston's time on Nightline can be glimpsed in the last clip of this 20th Anniversary Episode. Ralston has described his time on Nightline as wild, crazy, and "the best time in journalism that I've ever had".

Ralston has been at the forefront of some of television's most innovative moments, both good and bad. Aside from the gonzo satire of Nightline, Ralston wrangled politicos, journos and other opinionated hardheads over multiple seasons of talk show The Ralston Group. The show was inspired by America's long-running The McLaughlin Group.

After leaving TV3 he spent three years hosting successful arts and media show Backch@t, and editing Metro magazine. Much like Ralston, Backch@t was irreverent, intelligent and often provocative. The show won the NZ Film and Television award for best lifestyle running each year it was on air. Post TV3, Ralston also presented the short-lived Ralston Live at TVNZ.

In mid-2003 Ralston begin arguably his most controversial role, as head of TVNZ news and current affairs. During three years in the position, Ralston fought for the channel to break more stories on its primetime bulletin, and was among those caught up in the headlines over allegedly exorbitant salaries paid to Paul Holmes and newsreader Judy Bailey.

Ralston left TVNZ in January 2007. Since then he has continued with writing slots with The Listener, Stuff and Radio Live, and also freelanced for the NZ Herald. These days he runs communications company Deadline Limited, with his wife, sometime Nightline presenter Janet Wilson.

In 2016 he stood for a seat on the Auckland Council, but came second.

Along the way Ralston has had cameo roles in satirical show The Jaquie Brown Diaries, and in the opening scenes of classic Peter Jackson movie Braindead.

Profile updated on 9 June 2023

Sources include
'Bill Ralston - a lively life in TV news' (Video Interview), NZ On Screen Website. Director Andrew Whiteside. Loaded 8 August 2011. Accessed 19 August 2011
Julie Middleton, 'Ralston goes from making news to running it' (Profile) - The NZ Herald, 1 July 2003
Claire Trevett, 'Wild Bill Ralston - behind the bravo of TVNZ's maverick' (Interview) - The NZ Herald, 5 November 2005
Diana Wichtel, 'Three's a crowd' - The Listener, 31 December 2005, issue 3425
'Interview: Bill Ralston' Newstalk ZB website. 30 November 2015. Accessed 9 June 2023