'My kids give me hope'

Fair Go presenter Pippa Wetzell talks to writer Emma Clifton about navigating change, teenage challenges and why she'll keep on fighting.

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As a presenter on Fair Go, Pippa Wetzell is used to being on the right side of justice and there’s one oft-maligned group of society that she’s very passionate about sticking up for – teenagers. Her eldest two children, daughters Brodie, 17, and Cameron, 14, are both smack-bang in their teen years and Pippa is here to tell you that the bad press that age group gets is very unfair.

“I just think teenage girls are the most awesome people on the planet,” she enthuses. “They’re so on to it. They have so much coming at them, but they’re clever, creative and sociable. I know it’s not the same experience for everyone, but I’m loving these teenage years.”

There’s a heightened sense of appreciation to this time, partly because it’s so different to how teens are usually presented in the media and partly because there’s the very real possibility that this is a finite time of family socialising.

“I’m very mindful that we’re probably not too far away from them choosing to go elsewhere in their lives, so I’m making the most of it.”

Pippa’s youngest son Taj only turned 13 early this year, but Pippa is similarly optimistic that he’ll continue on the delightful teenage trend. In fact, when asked about the biggest thing giving her hope these days, the TVNZ star is quick to answer – the young people in her life.

“Every generation of teenager gets so much flak, but I just think that they’re going to change the world,” she says. “They’re going to shape and change the planet, and the amount they’re dealing with is so much more than my generation had to deal with.”