Auckland radio host Jay-Jay Feeney has revealed she’s taking a break from broadcasting, after 33 years on air.
She announced her departure live on air at the start of her More FM drive show with co-host Paul “Flynny” Flynn earlier today.
“Some people will be shocked by this and others will be happy,” she said before her announcement.
In an Instagram post earlier today, Feeney explained the reasons she is hanging up her headphones for good.
“That’s 33 years on the air. Preparing, sharing and hosting four-to-five hour shows every weekday… Thirty-three years is a long time, and I am tired. I’m low on fresh, creative ideas, and basically, I just need a big rest.”
Her last day on air will be July 5. Feeney said she needs to take the time to slow down, and emphasised how “mental health and clarity” is.
“The one thing I’ve learned as I’ve got older, is how important mental health and clarity is. It’s time I actually listened to what my inner-self has been screaming at me for a while and slow down.”
She was 17 when she first started in radio with MediaWorks in New Plymouth.
She has been with MediaWorks-owned More FM since 2018. Before that, she was the co-host on The Edge for 23 years alongside her now ex-husband Dom Harvey.
The pair split in 2017 after 18 years together, but remained amicable throughout their separation.
Feeney said she does not know where her career will take her next, but said she would be “heading off on a three-week adventure in Bali and when I come back I will spend a bit more time finding myself again.”
The broadcaster said on More FM that radio had “been her passion” and that she was “been lucky to work with some of the best in the business.”
“Thank you for all of your understanding and support. It means a lot to me,” she concluded. “And thank you for listening to me on the radio. That means the world to me.”
