Jim Hickey (broadcaster)

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Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Jim Hickey (born 1 August 1949) is a former weather presenter for TVNZ in New Zealand. He was the senior weathercaster for TVNZ for 22 years.

Biography

Hickey grew up on a farm in Ōpunake, and initially trained as a secondary school teacher before going on to study a Bachelor of Arts in geography with specialisation in climatology.[1] Hickey later completed a Diploma of Meteorology.[1]

In 2006, Hickey was announced as a board member of Family First New Zealand, a conservative Christian lobby group, a position he still holds.[2][3]

Hickey has an affinity for aviation; during his time as a weatherman, Hickey would pilot himself from his home in New Plymouth to his work in Auckland in a Cessna.[4] In 2019 Stuff published that Hickey was living in an unused airport hangar at the New Plymouth airport that he had remodelled.[5] James Brian Hickey, his father, was a Spitfire pilot in Burma during World War Two.[6]

Hickey has four children, including Sally Jo Hickey, a former influencer.[2][7]

Career

Hickey's career in the arts began in the early 1980s with minor theatre and television roles, including roles on Mortimer's Patch and Children of the Dog Star.[1]

In 1988 Hickey began presenting the weather for TVNZ as the senior weathercaster, a position he held until 2003. In 2007 he resumed his role as senior weathercaster, following Brendan Horan's retirement.[8][9] One notable cross occurred following a snow dump which blocked the Homer Tunnel, and following the cancellation of flights, flew himself and Tāmati Coffey (who was a reporter for Breakfast at the time) from Milford Sound to Queenstown.[10] He retired for the second and final time in late 2014.[11]

Following his time as the senior weathercaster, Hickey has gained somewhat of a celebrity status in New Zealand.[12][13] Hickey was also known for his on-air persona and gaffes, including one incident where Hickey said "comeburgers," which was then featured on Eating Media Lunch.[14]

In addition to his role as weathercaster, Hickey presented other TVNZ programmes such as Country Calendar, Jim's Car Show, A Flying Visit, How's the Weather Jim?, The Real Middle Earth[15] and the 1999 documentary, Shaky Beginnings by Bryan Bruce.[16]

Alongside his television career, Hickey co-owns a series of cafes and restaurants and has worked in the antique furniture business.[17][18]

See also

References

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External links

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