Where were you born? 
I was born in Brisbane, Australia but I was only about a month old when I came to live in New Zealand.

Where did you grow up?
My first five years where spent in Hamilton, and then I lived in Kaikohe, in the far north of the North Island for 14 years.  But as to where I grew up – well, I’ve still got a bit of that to do!

Your first memory?
I remember driving home with my Grandfather on a Monday morning, having spent the weekend at their house, singing “One potato, two potato” over and over.  Each time he’d say “last one promise” and after singing the song I’d say “more some last one promise”.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always wanted to perform.  But I didn’t have my heart set on any one thing.  I loved performing in local theatre and participating in school speech competitions and I’ve always sung along with the radio (often very loud and sometimes very flat :o)

What was your first job?
My first job was working in my parent’s coffee lounge washing dishes and buttering bread for sandwiches.  
I also had a job at the local supermarket packing groceries.
My first “industry” job was with a radio station called KCC FM in Whangarei.  I’d completed some work experience at Radio Northland in Whangarei and was lucky enough to join that station at their “Bay Radio” Summer station before I joined KCCFM. I started in the copy department writing scripts for radio advertisements and got to try my hand at just about everything (scheduling advertisements, receptionist, promotions assistant) before I ended up with my own airshift weekday evenings from 7pm until midnight.

What was your first TV job?
My TV career started in 1990 with a programme called EBS (the Earlybird Show) which had 6 bird puppets and me!  Then I had my own afternoon show called 3pm, which had guests, games, cartoons and lots of fun.  I was the host of the preschool programme You and Me for 5 and for the last 4 years I’ve been the host of Suzy’s World.

How did you get into TV?
I’d meet the Executive Producer (big boss!) for EBS at a bbq about a year before I started on the programme.  We talked about lots of different things but didn’t see each other again until I started work at BMG RCA as a promotions assistant.  When I took international stars around to radio stations and TV programmes for interviews I got talking to the people that made EBS.  I was pretty happy where I was at BMG and wasn’t looking for a job… then I got a call asking if I’d ever thought of being on TV.  I joked “yes, I’m Ginger Rogers where’s my Fred Astaire” (they were famous film stars a long time ago - even before I was born!!!)  Next thing I knew I was in at TV3 at 6am the following Saturday morning watching EBS go live-to-air (it wasn’t pre-recorded it was live).  The Saturday after that I was live-on-air with them!
I got told some months after that if I hadn’t done well that day I would have been given some petrol vouchers and been told, thanks but no thanks.  Guess I must have done ok that day :o)
EBS was a programme that played on TV3 on Saturday mornings (and sometimes Sundays and sometimes mid week during the school holidays)  There were 6 puppets and me.  The star of the show was Russell Rooster and he was extremely funny.  Aunty Kiri Kea was cool and then there were Dan, Spike and Oz – some hard case ducks and a young owl.  It was a fantastic team to work in because they were all such talented people.

What other programmes have you been on?
In 1992 I had my own afternoon programme called 3pm.  The set was made out of oversized props like a giant pumpkin and a giant boot that were seats and a huge mailbox with eyes and a smiley mouth that I got all my competition entries from and letters from the kids that watched the programme.

In 1993 I started with You and Me, a preschool programme.  The set was made to look like a house with a live garden and a bathroom and bedroom but it was all set up inside a huge studio in Dunedin.

In 1999 I formed my own production Company called Treehut Productions to create Suzy’s World.  We investigated all kinds of crazy science based questions and travelled around New Zealand to find the answers.

I also presented a programme for adults called Family Confidential which was all about families and that played on TV3 in 2001.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a crazy cat called Moomoo. I know, it’s a strange name for a cat, but if you know her you’d know it suits her.  She is very loving and really loves to snuggle on my knee when I’m working on the computer or watching TV - but it’s usually only when she wants to and not when you pick her up for a cuddle :o)
She’s very shy around other people and hates going to the vets or just being in the car.

Do  you enjoy doing Christmas in the Park?  
I love performing at Christmas in the Park because we have so much fun and it’s a wonderful show that families can enjoy together.  In Auckland we can have up to 250,000 people in the audience and that is amazing!

What Primary School did you got to?
I grew up in Kaikohe, in the Far North, and I went to both Kaikohe East and Kaikohe West Primary Schools.

What was your fravourite TV  programme when you were a kid?
When I was young I loved watching Playschool,  Sesame Street and Vision On, when I got a bit older I liked programmes like Spot On which was made in New Zealand.

What was your fravourite game when you were a kid?
I loved playing games using my imagination and dress ups. When I was older I loved games like Monopoly and knuckle bones – oh and playing “elastics” I don’t know if they call it that now but you needed three people – two to hold the elastic around their legs and one person does a series of jumps over the elastic as it gets higher and higher.

Favourite Colour:         Purple

Favourite Fruit:             Feijoas and fresh pineapple

Favourite Veggie:         Love most vegies but really like the ol’ spud (potato)

Favourite Movie:           Lots – anything that will make you cry is a winner with me :o)

Star Sign:                       Gemini

Hobbies:                         Reading, watching movies, cooking, walking, singing,
                                          gardening, writing.