Almost half a million Kiwis tuned in last night for the latest documentary in award-winning Newshub journalist Patrick Gower’s series, Patrick Gower: On P.
258,694 viewers in the commercially important 25-54 demographic tuned in across New Zealand for the one hour documentary, making it the most watched local programme on Three this year.
The broadcast reached 486,442 individuals across the country.
The fifth documentary in the Patrick Gower: On series, it delved into the world of methamphetamine or ‘P’ in New Zealand.
Gower, or ‘Paddy’ as he’s affectionately known to the nation, recently won the Voyager Journalism Award for Social Issues.
He says: “I am really, really stoked. I am just so happy that Kiwis got around their screens to learn about what this evil drug methamphetamine is doing to Aotearoa New Zealand. These numbers show that people really care.”
The documentary carried a vital message.
“We have to do something different, we need the Government to help set up health-based support for methamphetamine users around the country.
“I thank all those in the documentary who opened up so that others can learn and I am just so thankful that lots of people got to see their stories.
“I dedicated this documentary to a Mum I know who never gave up on her son with an addiction. This documentary is for that Mum and everyone like her and I hope it goes some way to helping us start to treat addiction with more humanity.
“It’s awesome that so many Kiwi’s are supporting current affairs on primetime TV, it’s bloody humbling. I wish I could give you all a hug! I would also like to NZ On Air – this wouldn’t have happened without them. Broadcasting issues like this are just so important.”
