He Never Does Podcasts! The Full Mark Sainsbury Story
- Jun 20, 2026
- 2:07:59
- Full Episode
Mark Sainsbury has been part of the NZ media landscape for as long as you can remember. For 5 years he was the host of a nightly 7pm show on TV1 called Close up. This was at a time when prime time free to air TV still commanded a huge audience.
And this is “Sainso’s” first ever long form podcast! It’s a very wide-ranging conversation:
* We talk about his iconic moustache, of course. * His best stories about working with Sir Paul Holmes. * Memories of the 1981 Springbok tour * Why him and Paul Henry have a strained relationship. * Getting publicly dumped from prime-time TV. * Why Paul Henry publicly criticized him. * His friendship with Sir Edmund Hillary. * Men’s health. Ageing. And the weirdness of having one of the country’s most familiar faces.
Mark is funny, self-deprecating, brutally honest, and full of stories that could only come from someone who has lived such a full life.
***
Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsor, Generate.
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Who should be on the podcast next? Message Dom Instagram: @domharveynz Email: [email protected]
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Brief Summary
Mark Sainsbury discusses his media career, health advocacy, and reflections on aging and journalism in New Zealand.
Key points
- The Journey to a Hip Replacement. A frustrating experience navigating the healthcare system for a hip replacement.
- The Pressure of Movember. Movember campaigners put pressure on Mark to keep his mustache, leading to humorous anecdotes.
- A Wild Bus Adventure. Mark recounts a reckless night of stealing a bus after a Miss Wellington contest.
- The Smoking Era of TV News. A nostalgic look back at the smoking culture in the newsroom.
- Paul's Smoking Defiance. Paul lit a cigarette in a crowded restaurant despite the smoking ban, showcasing his rebellious spirit.
- Altitude Sickness Drama. A tense moment as Ed Hillary suffers altitude sickness while filming in Nepal, raising stakes for the crew.
Episode highlights
- The Journey to a Hip ReplacementA frustrating experience navigating the healthcare system for a hip replacement.“You the state are telling me I should go and pay for it myself.”9:34Jun 20, 2026
- The Pressure of MovemberMovember campaigners put pressure on Mark to keep his mustache, leading to humorous anecdotes.“I dreaded Movember every year.”17:05Jun 20, 2026
- A Wild Bus AdventureMark recounts a reckless night of stealing a bus after a Miss Wellington contest.“We shot through and we're walking back...”28:42Jun 20, 2026
- The Smoking Era of TV NewsA nostalgic look back at the smoking culture in the newsroom.“Smoking was compulsory.”35:37Jun 20, 2026
- Paul's Smoking DefiancePaul lit a cigarette in a crowded restaurant despite the smoking ban, showcasing his rebellious spirit.“Just zero [ __ ] given.”49:54Jun 20, 2026
- Altitude Sickness DramaA tense moment as Ed Hillary suffers altitude sickness while filming in Nepal, raising stakes for the crew.“I want to piss. Which is a good sign.”1:00:34Jun 20, 2026
- Ed Hillary's Commanding PresenceEd Hillary was a man of few words but had a commanding presence that inspired many.“He was a big unit... a man of few words.”1:07:47Jun 20, 2026
- The Art of ListeningListening is crucial in conversations, yet many fail to do it effectively.“You got to listen.”1:22:55Jun 20, 2026





