Jim Hopkins
James Arthur Hopkins (9 December 1946 – 27 July 2026) was a New Zealand broadcaster, writer and local politician. Known for his work in television, radio and theatre, he later served as a district councillor for Banks Peninsula and Waitaki.
Life and career
[edit]Hopkins was scriptwriter for Close to Home, presenter of Fast Forward, Don't Tell Me, The Inventors, Dateline Monday, a performer on The BNZ Festival Debates, and radio talkback host on Radio Pacific in Auckland and Radio Avon in Christchurch.
In August 1998, Hopkins released his first book, Blokes & Sheds,[1] which hit number one on the New Zealand sales list after only a week.[citation needed] The book profiles amateur inventors from across New Zealand. Hopkins followed it up with another book, Inventions from the Shed, in 1999,[2] and a 5-part film documentary series with the same name that featured inventors across Australia.[3]
He served for four terms as a councillor on the Banks Peninsula District Council before moving to Waitaki.[4]
Hopkins was elected as a councillor for the Waitaki District Council, based in Oamaru, in 2007, and became Deputy Mayor in 2010.[5] In July 2013 he announced his intention to stand for the mayoralty in the local body elections to be held later in the year.[6]
He remained a councillor up until his death on 27 July 2026, at the age of 79.[7][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Hopkins, J. (1998). Blokes and sheds. HarperCollins. ISBN 1-86950-278-7.
- ↑ Jim Hopkins; Julie Riley (23 March 1999). Inventions from the Shed. HarperCollins New Zealand. ISBN 1-86950-323-6.
- ↑ Screen Australia. "Review". Inventions from the Shed (2004). Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- 1 2 Broadcaster and Waitaki councillor Jim Hopkins dies, Stuff, 27 July 2026. Accessed 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Studholme, R. "Hopkins Waitaki deputy mayor," stuff.co.nz. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ↑ Bruce, D. "Hopkins enters race for mayoralty," Otago Daily Times, 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ↑ Veteran broadcaster and Waitaki councillor Jim Hopkins dies
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External links
[edit]- NZ On Screen profile
- Speakers New Zealand: Jim Hopkins
- Jim Hopkins at IMDb
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