Phil Gifford

Philip Douglas Gifford was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 1947. His father Ray edited the Waihi Gazette after leaving dairy farming for health reasons, and the family connection to local journalism shaped Phil's path. As a twelve-year-old in 1959 he wrote for the Waihi College school magazine about that year's Lions test series. Encouraging teachers and the family paper led him to a cadetship at the New Zealand Herald in Auckland in 1965, where he emerged as an accomplished young writer.

Gifford became one of New Zealand's best-known rugby and sports voices in print and on radio. In 1973 he created the satirical character Loosehead Len, publishing seven books under that name and more than twenty-five books in total, among them Grizz: The Legend on coach Alex Wyllie, a 1990s sports bestseller, and biographies of Dame Valerie Adams, Sir Peter Leitch and Sir Wayne Smith. He wrote a weekly column for the Sunday Star-Times and contributed to North and South magazine.

On air he co-hosted breakfast with Simon Barnett on 91ZM Christchurch from 1992 to 1997 and then on More FM Christchurch until 2003, before moving to Radio Sport and the Saturday Front Row rugby show. From 2019 to mid-2021 he reunited with Barnett on Newstalk ZB weekday afternoons. He attended every men's Rugby World Cup from 1987 to 2019 and covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Honours included multiple radio and writing awards, the 2010 SPARC lifetime achievement award, and the ONZM in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Gifford was married to Jan and was the father of Emmalene, Jane, Scott and Adam. Beyond rugby he wrote a music column for North and South and appeared on a celebrity Weakest Link special in 2002, raising funds for charity. Friends and colleagues often pointed to his laconic humour and long working friendships, including the on-air partnership with Simon Barnett that spanned Christchurch breakfast radio and later Newstalk ZB.

Phil Gifford died in Auckland on 29 September 2026, aged 79. The New Zealand Herald and RNZ reported the news, noting that he is survived by his wife Jan and their four children. Tributes described him as an iconic sports journalist and broadcaster whose career had lasted more than half a century.

Gifford is remembered for bringing satire, storytelling and clear judgment to New Zealand rugby coverage, for Loosehead Len, and for a broadcasting partnership with Simon Barnett that defined Christchurch breakfast radio for years. His books, columns and World Cup reporting left a large footprint in sports media, recognised by national writing awards, the SPARC lifetime achievement honour and the ONZM. Younger reporters and listeners cited him as a model of longevity and craft in sports journalism.