Navigation for Station navigation

Phil O'Brien

Host of Saturday Night, Sunday Night

Photo of Phil O'Brien

A Wellingtonian born and bred; Phil has had a broad career in radio across 50 years.

He joined RNZ about 25 years ago, and started the Matinee Idle more than 20 years ago. The programme was intended to be an one-off programme filler one summer, wrapped up in January 2026. 

Phil hosts Saturday Night Requests, a programme that has a very dedicated audience, including NZ expats living overseas and the Sunday Night Retro Show.

“I get to play music for people who love music. Is there a better job than that? I don't think so.”

Phil describes himself a petrol-head from way back, and like much of the music he plays on the radio, he’s a collector of 20th century technology – CDs and DVDs.

RNZ Programmes

More National Presenters

Search results for Phil O'Brien

  • End of the news as we know it?

    media politics
    14 Apr 2024

    This week our two biggest TV broadcasters confirmed plans to cut news programmes by midyear - and the jobs of a significant proportion of this country’s journalists. Many observers said this had been… Audio

  • Political post-mortems - and lessons from the past

    media politics
    14 Aug 2022

    Has the media focus on political failings become just too intense? A new book lifting the lid on the National Party in opposition has revealed more about the struggles, scandals and scraps that… Video, Audio

  • Review -The Sparks Brothers

    movies
    21 Jul 2021

    Edgar Wright's documentary about American group Sparks is released just as band-members Russell and Ron Mael launch their own musical, Annette, at the Cannes Film Festival. The Sparks Brothers… Video, Audio

  • Sam Neill: 'A little optimism at the end of a rather dark tunnel'

    29 Nov 2020

    To say Sam Neill has had a busy year is putting it mildly. He opened 2020 playing Phil O'Brien as guest star on Matinee Idle. After that, he shot off to the UK as a rather better paid guest star on… Audio

  • Fast food frenzy a genuine story if overcooked in parts

    business media
    29 Apr 2020

    Some people couldn’t wait to get a fast-food feed ASAP after the level 3 switch - and the media copped criticism for wall-to-wall on-the-spot coverage of the frenzy. But reporters went beyond the… Audio

  • Tim O'Brien

    7 Jan 2020

    Double Grammy winning musician Tim O'Brien speaks to the Matinee Idle team ahead of his visit to New Zealand. He is set to headline the 47th Auckland Folk Festival at the Kumeu Showgrounds 24-27… Audio

  • The End of Life Choice Debate: in pictures

    politics
    13 Nov 2019

    The third reading debate of the End of Life Choice Bill made for a busy, emotional day at Parliament. For The House Phil Smith caught the action in photos. 

  • Aussie wastewater analysis shows stark divide

    science
    21 Oct 2019

    If you've ever felt a bit stink about your own job, spare a thought for a pair of dedicated researchers at the University of Queensland Audio

  • Predator priest from NZ continued to offend in Britain

    crime
    23 Oct 2018

    A predator priest sent from New Zealand to Britain was free to keep preying on children for two more decades because of failings by the Catholic Church. Last month RNZ revealed the crimes, including… Audio

  • Abuser priest should not have been thanked - Bishop

    crime
    19 Sep 2018

    The Catholic Bishop of Christchurch says his diocese should not have given thanks to God for a child molester. Bishop Paul Martin has released a file on the predator priest Cornelius O'Brien to one of… Audio

  • Canterbury Catholic diocese accused of enabling abusive priest

    17 Sep 2018

    Two Canterbury men are accusing the Catholic church of enabling a priest to carry out a string of child sex attacks across the South Island. Documents show the church knew Father Cornelius O'Brien had… Audio

  • 'The Church should open up their books' - abuse survivor

    17 Sep 2018

    Documents show the Catholic church publicly thanked a priest for his service, despite knowing he was a serial predator of young boys. A church investigator's report from 2017 says Father Cornelius… Audio