Sean Plunket

Plunket's early positions in broadcasting and journalism included a brief stint as a copywriter at Radio Windy, five years at Independent Radio News, a short spell as a reporter for Radio New Zealand, three years as a political reporter on TV3, working as a presenter–reporter on TVNZ's Fair Go and Under Investigation programmes, and then further roles at TV3 on 20/20 and as senior political reporter.[1]

From 1997[1] to 2010, he was one of two breakfast hosts of Morning Report between 6 am and 9 am weekdays on Radio New Zealand National.[7] His regular co-host was Geoff Robinson. In 2009, Plunket lost a dispute with his employer, Radio New Zealand, who he took to the Employment Relations Authority.[8] Plunket announced his resignation from Radio New Zealand in June 2010[9] and his last day on Morning Report was 8 September 2010.[7]

From January 2011 to December 2012 he presented Sean Plunket Mornings on the Wellington branch of Newstalk ZB.[2]

Plunket took over hosting the 9 am–noon weekday slot on Radio Live, later known as MagicTalk, from Michael Laws in April 2013,[10] continuing to December 2015, when he was replaced by Mark Sainsbury.[11] Until 2014, he wrote a weekly column for The Dominion Post.[12]

In 2017, Plunket became director of communications for The Opportunities Party, which was established by economist Gareth Morgan.[4]

Soon after the sacking of former interim MagicTalk talkback radio host John Banks, Plunket left the station in February 2021. Plunket's own talkback radio slot had already been the subject of a successful Broadcasting Standards Authority complaint over remarks that a Māori iwi (tribe) "did not care about child abuse" while discussing an iwi roadblock intended to protect its elderly members from the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14][15] However, Mediaworks has stressed that Plunkett was not pushed to leave as a result.[3]

In September 2021, Plunket announced plans to start his own online talkback station called The Platform, which he said would promote free speech, democracy and debate.[16][5] According to Plunket, the station does not receive funding from public sources such as the Public Interest Journalism Fund due to its requirement for recipients to adhere to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which he regarded as a limitation on free speech.[17] Besides Plunket, other notable hosts have included sports broadcaster Martin Devlin, former Otago Regional Council member Michael Laws, and former ACT Party leader Rodney Hide had joined the talkback station.[18] Notable guests have included politicians such as David Seymour, Winston Peters, Chris Hipkins, and Michael Bassett.[18][19][20]