Former news presenter for ONE News, the highest rated evening television news programme in New Zealand. She has been called the "Mother of the Nation".
Bailey joined the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (now Television New Zealand) in 1971 and worked as a reporter on news and current affairs programs. She presented the regional news with John Hawkesby for Auckland from 1980 - 1987 in the program Top Half. From 1988, she presented the ONE News program (along with Richard Long until 2004). A reshuffle in TVNZ following the departure of Paul Holmes in 2004 saw her become the sole news presenter on the evening news, and her salary soared to NZ$800,000. The size of the salary was criticised by the government, despite it being fully funded from TVNZ's own commercial revenues and not involving taxpayer money.
On October 3, 2005, Television New Zealand announced it was not renewing her contract despite her immense popularity, as it planned a rejuvation of its news programs to combat slipping market share. Her final day fronting the 6pm news was on 23 December 2005. Simon Dallow and Wendy Petrie took over in January 2006.
Her next role on television was on MÄori Television on ANZAC Day (25 April 2006), where she co-hosted the 6 am to midnight coverage of events.
Her autobiography was released in late 2006. (From Wikipedia)
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