Jim Hopkins (2026)

Their Story

Jim Hopkins was widely known across New Zealand as a broadcaster, writer, author, and gifted communicator whose career spanned decades. He worked in television and radio, writing for the soap opera Close to Home in the 1970s and presenting programs including Fast Forward, The Inventors, and Dateline Monday. A familiar voice on talkback radio in Auckland and Christchurch, Hopkins became best known for his 1998 book Blokes and Sheds, which studied amateur inventors and reached number one on the New Zealand sales list within a week. He also hosted the National Young Farmer competition for 21 years until 2011.\n\nBeyond broadcasting, Hopkins devoted the latter part of his career to public service. He was elected to the Oamaru Ward on the Waitaki District Council in 2007 and served as deputy mayor from 2010 to 2013, having previously served four terms on the Banks Peninsula Council. Known for his wit, eloquence, and commitment to his community, he remained a councillor until his death. Those who knew him remembered a man who cared deeply about fairness, people, and community, combining sharp intelligence with generous humor in everything he did.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hopkins