He Never Does Podcasts! The Full Mark Sainsbury Story

Dom Harvey

  • 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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Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Listen via Apple Music: https://rebrand.ly/RunnersOnly_Apple Listen via Spotify: https://rebrand.ly/RunnersOnly_Spotify

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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.

Tension

45/ 100Some tension

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