Tony Ciprian

Tony Ciprian, who passed away on 13 January 2015, spent at least 25 years shepherding sport onto local TV screens. The onetime policeman began as a reporter at Gisborne's Radio 2ZG, then moved to television fulltime; by the 80s he was producing and presenting sports for TVNZ's primetime news. In at the launch of TV3 in 1989, Ciprian mentored many young journalists, before making the first of many attempts to retire.

His gravelly voice was known countrywide. He arrived at TV3 when it first started, and stayed for nearly 20 years. He attempted to retire a couple of times, even moved to Australia, but writing and reporting was in his blood, he never stayed away long. He was always welcomed back. TV3 website tribute to Tony Ciprian, 13 January 2015