Tributes have flooded in for veteran New Zealand journalist and broadcaster Bob McNeil who has passed away aged 82.
Bob, who worked at TV3 as a reporter and presenter for 20 years, died on December 30 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
As news of the award-winning journalist’s passing broke, colleges and viewers took to social media to offer their tributes.
Bob’s daughter Sacha McNeil, herself a reporter for TVNZ, took to instagram to share a sweet post in honour of her late father.
Posting a duo of images of Bob, Sacha remembered her father as ‘brave’ and ‘good humoured’.
Dad was always a man of words. He excelled in memories and storytelling, always eager to listen to others. However, the final chapter of his own story was not something he would have chosen to write himself,” she expressed.
Tributes have flooded in for veteran New Zealand journalist and broadcaster Bob McNeil who has passed away aged 82
‘And yet, after a long, brave but always good humoured battle with Alzheimer’s, he called time when he was ready.’
‘As The Beatles pointed out “…in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make”.’
Sacha continued: ‘Dad will be taking so much love with him.’
‘Our kind, creative, funny, gentle, twinkling dad is finally free and resting as he deserves. We’ll all miss you every single day Dad.’
Sacha’s post was met with an outpouring of condolences from friends, followers and colleagues.’
Bob’s TV3 (now known as Three) colleague Samantha Hayes remembered Bob as a ‘joy’.
‘Bob was always such a joy to be around in the newsroom,’ she wrote.
‘His unique style of storytelling full of empathy and humour. Sending lots of love.’
Bob, who dedicated 20 years of his life to working as a reporter and presenter at TV3, passed away on December 30 after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. The image shows Bob’s autobiography from 2014.
One follower summed up the sentiment of many, replying with: ‘Beautiful words for a beautiful man Sending all our love to you and your family.’
1 News reporter Barbara Dreaver also remembered Bob as ‘a damn fine journo and a gentleman.’
Similarly TV and radio reporter Donna-Marie Lever offered: ‘Very sad news. Always so lovely in the field and a class act.’
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Sacha revealed why she believed Bob had such an impact on audiences.
“I believe people connected with him because he was a humble boy from Taranaki who stood up for the marginalized and had a spark in his gaze,” she shared with the publication.
‘He was genuine, he loved people, and he loved hearing their stories. His warmth was evident on the telly,”she said.
Bob was born in Wellington in 1942 and after leaving school, began his journalism career at the Taranaki Daily News in New Plymouth.
Bob’s daughter Sacha McNeil (pictured) herself a reporter for TVNZ, took to instagram to share a sweet tribute to her late father
He then got his teacher’s qualification, eventually working as a teacher for seven years, including in the UK.
After returning to New Zealand with his wife Jeanette, Bob worked in radio for many years.
However it was his work on TV3 for which he is most fondly remembered, starting with the channel during its 1989 premiere until his retirement in 2010.
Bob also published an autobiography, News Tales, in 2014.
