Inside Out - Warwick Roger

The thing that worries me most is the word 'progressive'. If it progresses slowly and I can get through to 70 or 80 or mid-70s with not too much deterioration I won't be too concerned, but it seems to be speeding up ... more than it was in the previous two years...

– Warwick Roger on what he fears most about his condition

He genuinely loved Auckland. He was born in Auckland, grew up in Greenlane. He had studied the city for so many years. Everything he wrote that was critical of Auckland was because he wanted it to be a better place.

– Former Metro editor Nicole Legat remembers Warwick Roger's love for his home city, The NZ Herald, 18 August 2018

Roger pushed the boundaries. He wrote savage restaurant reviews. He created the scurrilous gossip column Felicity Ferret (partly inspired by the satirical English magazine Private Eye), which delighted in mocking the silvertails and high-flyers of Remuera and Parnell while simultaneously promoting an image of an Auckland that was glamorous, sophisticated, racy and cosmopolitan.

– Excerpt from Karl Du Fresne's obituary for Warwick Roger, The Dominion Post, 25 August 2018

People used to hate Muldoon when he was in power, but they used to say when he was out of power 'he wasn't such a bad old thing after all'. I suspect possibly quite a few people say about Warwick Roger 'he wasn't such a bad old thing after all'.

– Warwick Roger sees similarities between his tough reputation and that of Robert Muldoon

You appreciate simple things much more.

– Warwick Roger on the clarifying effect of having a degenerative disease.

I think Warwick is probably one of the best journalists in this country. I think he's one of the great observers of New Zealand life, of our culture and the way we are as people.

– Friend Bob Harvey describes the achievements of his friend Warwick Roger

All good magazines, all good newspapers reflect the personality of their editors...

– Warwick Roger on what makes a good read

Even the simplest, everyday tasks can be quite tricky for Warwick now. He can measure how well his day will go with how long it takes him to shave in the morning.

– Narrator Tessa Mitchell on the creeping cruelty of Parkinson's Disease

My typing's appalling. I would say every third word is gibberish and I have to go back and revise all the time.

– Warwick Roger on one of the bugbears of Parkinson's for a working journalist