Balancing the roles of radio and councillor

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

He’s a seasoned broadcaster but knows he has to watch what he says more than ever.

That's because Phill Hooper, the morning voice on the airwaves in Mid Canterbury for over 20 years, is now a councillor to boot.

Councillor Hooper, as well as being Hoops on Hokonui, is well aware of the risks of the dual roles.

“As far as the radio thing goes, it’s the same old same old but with more care around council topics,” Hooper said.

“I’ve built my show on being as local as I can and, of course, the council is a huge part of that.”

Hooper aims to be a voice on the Ashburton District Council but not their voice on the airwaves.

He's conscious of airing an opinion on something on air that may impact his eligibility to vote on it at the council table due to pre-determination or using his position to push an agenda.

His weekly on-air chats with Mayor Neil Brown and chief executive Hamish Riach will continue.

“As I’ve done in the past, I’ll ask the questions and let them do the answering.”

There will be some adjustment to be made but he won't be Hoops on air forever.

“The balls up in the air at the moment and [I'm] just currently weighing up my options with timing and lifestyle changes,” he said.

Hooper said he was sitting his real estate papers again as he considered a possible move away from breakfast radio.

“I’ve loved the job for so many years but there comes a time when you don’t feel valued,'' he said.

“I used to sell real estate in between radio gigs for a few years and really enjoyed it, too.

“I see it as maybe an option to work in nicely with the council, and I might be able to have breakfast with family for the first time in many years.”

As for settling into the role of councillor Hooper, he said it’s still early days, but he's enjoying it even more than he thought he would.

“What has probably kept me fired up in radio for the last few years has been the ability to help people.

“I see the council as the next level and being part of some real change, and that’s exciting.”

*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air