Simon Barnett (born 23 March 1967) is a radio and television host and presenter in New Zealand.

Career

Barnett hosted ''Clash of the Codes'', a television programme in the 1990s where sportspeople participated in various physical challenges. He presented a similar show in 2018 called ''XVenture Family Challenge''. Barnett co-hosted the morning show on Christchurch radio station 92 More FM with

Gary McCormick Gary McCormick is a New Zealand poet, radio and television personality, debater and raconteur. McCormick began writing poetry in 1968. His published volumes are Gypsies (with Jon Benson, 1974), Naked and Nameless (1976), Poems for the Red Engi ...

until 2018, and previously with

Phil Gifford Philip Douglas Gifford (born 1947) is a New Zealand sportswriter and broadcaster. He had his own rugby radio show ''Front Row'' on Radio Sport from 8 to 10am on Saturdays. He writes a weekly column in the country's highest circulation weekend p ...

. He has hosted a breakfast slot on 91ZM, worked for

Radio Nelson Radio Nelson was a New Zealand radio station in Nelson. The station was started by Radio New Zealand (which at the time was known as the ''New Zealand Broadcasting Board'') in 1932. The station originally broadcast on 1340AM with the callsign 2 ...

and has acted, appearing in a New Zealand feature film ''

Ruby and Rata ''Ruby and Rata'' is a 1990 New Zealand comedy-drama film, directed and produced by Gaylene Preston. Plot summary Ruby ( Yvonne Lawley) is an 83-year-old woman who has just failed her driving test and is worried about her ability to cope with day ...

'' (1990). Barnett also won the 2015 series of the New Zealand version of ''Dancing with The Stars''. Barnett was a host on the children's TV programme '' What Now?'' from 1988 to 1992. He hosted the New Zealand version of the UK musical talent show, ''

Stars in Their Eyes ''Stars in Their Eyes'' is a British television talent series, based on Joop van den Ende's Dutch format '' Soundmixshow''. It featured a singing contest in which members of the public impersonate showbiz stars. The show premiered on 21 Ju ...

'' from 2008 to 2009. He was the host of the 2013 series of ''

Mitre 10 Dream Home ''Mitre 10 Dream Home'' is a reality television series that screened on TV2 in New Zealand, originally presented by Jayne Kiely, with Simon Barnett presenting series 11. Two couples are challenged to show the country whether or not they are abl ...

'' in the post-earthquake town of

Kaiapoi Kaiapoi is a town in the Waimakariri District of the Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury region, in the South Island of New Zealand. The town is located approximately 17 kilometres north of central Christchurch, close to the mouth of the Waimak ...

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...

. In 2019, Simon Barnett joined Newstalk ZB in Christchurch but shifted back to More FM in January 2025, saying "for me it slike walking in the front door of the family home after doing my OE for a few years".

Personal life

Barnett was born in Ashburton, near Christchurch in

, attending

Ashburton College Ashburton College is a state coeducational secondary school located in Ashburton, New Zealand. It opened in 1965 following the merger of two Ashburton secondary schools: Ashburton High School and Hakatere College, and moved to its current site ...

from 1980 and graduating in 1984, when he was Head Boy. He was married since 1991, to wife Jodi, with whom he had four daughters. In October 2023, Jodi died of brain cancer. She had suffered from seizures, which prompted Barnett to leave his role as Christchurch More FM's breakfast show host.Simon Barnett signs-off two-decade More FM career in sad silence
/ref> He opposed the Child Discipline Bill proposed in the

New Zealand Parliament The New Zealand Parliament () is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand, consisting of the Monarchy of New Zealand, Sovereign and the New Zealand House of Representatives. The King is usually represented by his Governor-General of New Zeal ...

, supporting the "Vote NO" campaign in the 2009 corporal punishment referendum.

References

External links

* * Children's TV show "

What Now What Now may refer to: Albums * What, Now? (Peter Hammill album), ''What, Now?'' (Peter Hammill album), 2001 * What Now? (Kenny Wheeler album), ''What Now?'' (Kenny Wheeler album), 2005 * What Now (Sylvan Esso album), ''What Now'' (Sylvan Esso al ...

" with Catherine McPherson * " Clash of the Codes" (1994) TV Series. * " Wheel of Fortune" (New Zealand version – took over from

Phillip Leishman Phillip John Leishman (9 April 1951 – 25 February 2013) was a New Zealand television broadcaster. Biography Born in Timaru in 1951, Leishman was educated at St Patrick's High School (now Roncalli College). He began his broadcasting care ...

) * Officia
Stars in Their Eyes
page at

TVNZ Television New Zealand (, "Te Reo Tātaki" meaning "The Leading Voice"), more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a New Zealand state-owned media company and Crown entity. The company operates a television network, streaming service, and news se ...

* Officia
Si and Gary Breakfast page
at

MORE FM More FM is a New Zealand radio network that plays hot adult contemporary music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand. More FM broadcasts in 25 centres throughout New Zealand on 81 transmitters with a mix of local and network programming. ...

1967 births People from Ashburton, New Zealand Living people New Zealand radio presenters New Zealand television presenters People educated at Ashburton College More FM Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series) winners {{NewZealand-tv-bio-stub

Career

Personal life

See also

References

External links