Richard Long (broadcaster)
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Richard Long (born Template:Circa) is a former New Zealand broadcaster, initially with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC), subsequently with Television New Zealand (TVNZ). He co-hosted the 6 pm Network News bulletins on TV One from 1988<ref name="NZHerald10348714">Template:Cite web</ref> until 19 December 2003,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with co-anchor Judy Bailey. He was dropped from weekday news for six weeks in 1999,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> presenting weekend bulletins alongside Liz Gunn while Judy Bailey and John Hawkesby fronted the weekday bulletins,<ref name="NZHerald10348714"/> before TVNZ responded to public pressure and returned him the weekday spot alongside Bailey on 1 March 1999.
During his career at TVNZ he covered the Aramoana massacre in 1990, reporting live from the township,<ref name="NZHerald3540466"/> and with Bailey presented the memorial service for yachtsman Peter Blake in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Long and Bailey were presenters of the year at the 2001 Qantas broadcasting awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
TVNZ announced it would not renew Long's contract on 22 October 2003, with head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston enacting cost-cutting measures and stating a desire to have a single newsreader format.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had an emotional departure on his last day, including an on-air send-off and an honour guard of TVNZ staff.<ref name="NZHerald3540466">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007, Long provided voice-overs in Hanover Finance advertisements; the Commerce Commission investigated the commercials in 2008 for misleading statements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Long later expressed regret about voicing the advertisements, saying that he personally lost $50,000 investing in Hanover.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>