Walking On Air

The timing of Rebecca Wrights move to New York to report forTVNZwasnt ideal but shecouldnt be happier. She tells NickyPellegrinoabout uprooting her family for the gig of a lifetime

- Nicky Pellegrino

A talent for logistics, an open mind and a can-do attitude are what it takes for a woman to ‘have it all’ in the 21st century – if TV news reporter Rebecca Wright is any example. Right now, she’s doing her dream job, making a home in one of the world’s most fast-paced cities, plus raising a toddler. And although things do tend to get crazy, she’s still loving this time in her life.

When Rebecca was offered the much-coveted two-year contract as TVNZ’s US correspondent, the timing was hardly ideal. Daughter Scarlett was only one-and-a-half, the family had just moved house and was still unpacking boxes and, besides, what would they do with the dog?

“It was a decision I really wrestled with,” admits Rebecca, 37.

But she wanted that job, and having reported on politics and breaking news, was sure she could do it.

“I felt like I had the perfect set of skills to step into the role and make it mine straight away. But I thought long and hard because I didn’t want to do anything that would be detrimental to Scarlett. In the end, I couldn’t say no, so I only had one choice – to do everything I could to make it a wonderful experience.”

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It helped that her partner Cameron Williams is a camera operator and was able to go to the US, where he works alongside Rebecca some of the time. “Once we’d made the decision, I was determined it was going to be beneficial for all of us,” she says.

So the family rented out their Auckland home, got busy packing up again, then headed to their new life in New York, without any real idea how it would pan out. Oh, and the dog – a three-year-old wheaten terrier – went too. “People think we’re crazy, but he’s part of the family, so we couldn’t leave him behind.”