Age, Biography and Wiki
Bill Ralston is a New Zealand journalist, columnist, radio host, and television host. He was born in 1953 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known for his work as a political commentator and for hosting the television show Back Benches.
Ralston began his career in journalism in the 1970s, working for the New Zealand Herald and the Auckland Star. He then moved to television, working as a reporter and presenter for TVNZ. In the 1990s, he became a political commentator for TV3, and in 2006 he began hosting the political show Back Benches.
Ralston has also written columns for the New Zealand Herald and the Sunday Star-Times. He is a regular contributor to Radio New Zealand's Morning Report and has hosted his own radio show on Radio Live.
Ralston is the author of several books, including The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception, which was shortlisted for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in 2006.
As of 2021, Bill Ralston's net worth is estimated to be roughly $2 million.
| Popular As |
N/A |
| Occupation |
Journalist, columnist, radio host, television host |
| Age |
70 years old |
| Zodiac Sign |
N/A |
| Born |
, 1953 |
| Birthday |
|
| Birthplace |
Auckland, New Zealand |
| Nationality |
New Zealand |
We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on .
He is a member of famous Journalist with the age 70 years old group.
Bill Ralston Height, Weight & Measurements
At 70 years old, Bill Ralston height not available right now. We will update Bill Ralston's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
| Physical Status |
| Height |
Not Available |
| Weight |
Not Available |
| Body Measurements |
Not Available |
| Eye Color |
Not Available |
| Hair Color |
Not Available |
Who Is Bill Ralston's Wife?
His wife is Janet Wilson
| Family |
| Parents |
Not Available |
| Wife |
Janet Wilson |
| Sibling |
Not Available |
| Children |
Not Available |
Bill Ralston Net Worth
His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Bill Ralston worth at the age of 70 years old? Bill Ralston’s income source is mostly from being a successful Journalist. He is from New Zealand. We have estimated
Bill Ralston's net worth
, money, salary, income, and assets.
| Net Worth in 2023 |
$1 Million - $5 Million |
| Salary in 2023 |
Under Review |
| Net Worth in 2022 |
Pending |
| Salary in 2022 |
Under Review |
| House |
Not Available |
| Cars |
Not Available |
| Source of Income |
Journalist |
Bill Ralston Social Network
Timeline
At the 2016 Auckland local elections, Ralston contested the Waitematā and Gulf ward of the Auckland Council. He came second in the contest to incumbent councillor Mike Lee and was not elected.
Since TVNZ he has written columns for The New Zealand Herald, Herald on Sunday, The Listener, the Media Scrum blog for Fairfax Media, and in 2009 was an afternoon host for Radio Live. Former foreign minister Winston Peters refused to appear on the Sky News New Zealand show covering the 2008 general election, because he objected to Ralston, the host.
CEO Ian Fraser appointed Ralston head of news and current affairs at TVNZ starting on 14 July 2003, Fraser saying, "Bill's energy, his experience and just a hint of the mongrel" would meet the challenge of the job. Ralston had a goal of reducing the $46 million TVNZ news budget by $4.5 million, and there were a number of high-profile departures from the broadcaster, including Judy Bailey, Richard Long, and Paul Holmes. Discussing the departures later in 2007, he blamed the government, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, for political interference in the salary negotiations. He drew criticism in March 2005 for verbally attacking Prime Television CEO Chris Taylor, saying, "I'd be shooting myself. I'd be pouring petrol over myself and throwing myself off Auckland's tallest building". In 2006, ONE News won the Qantas Media Award Best News Programme. He faced disciplinary action also in 2006 over an expletive-laden call to a Herald on Sunday journalist, who was making enquires about a homeless cousin. Ralston resigned from TVNZ on 30 January 2007, prior to an announcement of restructuring.
In July 2000, police were called to a Saatchi & Saatchi fundraising event, where it was alleged Ralston had punched guests. Until July 2003 he was writing for the Sunday News and the Independent business weekly, and was a talkback show host on Radio Pacific.
He hosted the arts and media show Backch@t for the show's three-year run from 1998 to 2000. Backch@t won the New Zealand Film and Television Awards Best Lifestyle Programme for all three years, and the 1999 Qantas Media Award Best Television Media Programme.
He married Janet Wilson, who also works in the media, in c.1997, and has two children from a previous marriage. He takes a photo of Mark Kellogg, an Associated Press reporter who died with General Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, wherever he goes.
From April 1997 until October 2000 he was the editor of Metro lifestyle magazine. In 1999, an official from the Ministry of Health visited Ralston and threatened to prosecute the magazine under the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, over a cigar review column. Ralston complained, saying the magazine derived no income from the column. While editor, several top Auckland restaurants banned him due to reviews in the magazine.
Ralston played zoo official Stewart in Peter Jackson's 1992 splatter film Braindead.
During the mid-1980s, he was a foreign correspondent for TVNZ, reporting from Indonesia, South Africa, China, the Philippines and Europe. He was shot at a Soweto school during the 1986 rebel Cavaliers tour of South Africa, and told by the Ministry of Information he was not welcome back. From 1987, he was a reporter for TVNZ's Frontline, before moving to competitor TV3 as Political Editor in 1989. In 1990 he was expelled from Fiji for his reporting. He later fronted TV3's Nightline current affairs show.
Ralston's career began with a cadet job for South Pacific Television in 1979. In 1980, he worked as a general news reporter for Television New Zealand (TVNZ) in Wellington and Christchurch. TVNZ seconded him to the BBC for six months in 1981, where he worked as a reporter for Wales Today in Cardiff. Returning in 1982, he went to the New Zealand Parliament Press Gallery as a political correspondent for TV ONE, where he covered the fall of the Muldoon government.
Bill Ralston (born 1953) is a New Zealand journalist, broadcaster, and media personality, active in television, radio and print. He has worked as a political correspondent, fronted the television arts show Backch@t, and was the head of news and current affairs at TVNZ from 2003 to 2007. The New Zealand Herald has described him as controversial.
