Susie Ferguson has chosen to leave her long-time role as Morning Report presenter in September to take up a new position created within RNZ as senior presenter and journalist.
Susie Ferguson has co-hosted Morning Report since 2014. Photo: LEE MCCAULEY
This will see her working on special projects in the same vein as her award-winning podcast The Unthinkable, and allow her to present key shows across RNZ National.
Ferguson started working with RNZ in 2009 and has presented Morning Report since April 2014.
While hosting the flagship programme, she made the RNZ podcast The Unthinkable which won gold at the New York Festival Radio Awards in October 2021.
Prior to moving to New Zealand, Ferguson worked in Britain for broadcasters including the BBC and ITN, and reported and presented from war and emergency zones around the world including Iraq, Afghanistan and Mozambique.
RNZ's Head of News Richard Sutherland paid tribute to Ferguson's talent and skill as a presenter and storyteller.
"Susie has done a brilliant job on Morning Report alongside Guyon Espiner and then Corin Dann. She has also demonstrated her abilities in a different style of interviewing and presenting while filling in for Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon and of course she's co-produced and hosted an award-winning podcast as a side project."
"Susie is a talented presenter and journalist and we're delighted that this new role allows us to keep her at RNZ after an outstanding eight years for Morning Report. I know listeners will enjoy hearing her covering different shows, as well as her other projects."
Corin Dann and Susie Ferguson. Photo: RNZ/Ana Tovey
Ferguson said it has been a privilege to start the day with people around Aotearoa, but she is excited about the new role.
"I'm looking forward to switching off the early alarm, but more than that I'm thrilled to be given the time and opportunity to make more podcasts and programmes, as well as to connect further with listeners by presenting across a range of RNZ National's award-winning shows."
Recruitment for a new Morning Report presenter to join Dann will begin shortly.
"Roles like this aren't available every day, and with the new public media entity on the horizon, we expect even more interest than usual," Sutherland said.