Duncan Garner is a 52-year-old New Zealand broadcaster who now hosts the daily podcast Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief and writes a column for the Listener. Five years after he walked away from The AM Show, his home life looks very different too: he shares a rural lifestyle block with his 78-year-old mum and his teenage son, Buster.
That set-up is his own description. Writing in the Listener in October 2025, he explained that he had bought the house with his mother, and he was blunt about it. “Families come in all sorts of configurations; this is ours and we’re doing this our way,” Garner wrote in his Listener column. Below is a then-and-now look at the man Kiwis knew for years as a political editor and breakfast host, and the questions people search most about him.
Who is Duncan Garner?
Garner was born on the North Shore of Auckland on 8 March 1974 and went to Westlake Boys High School. He started at TVNZ in 1995, worked on Holmes from 2000 to 2002 and moved to TV3 in 2003, where he became the network’s political editor. He broke the 2004 story about John Tamihere’s golden handshake, which won him a political reporting award, and he was named TV journalist of the year at the 2007 Qantas Media Awards.
Duncan Garner’s career, then and now
| Year | Role |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Joins TVNZ |
| 2000–2002 | Reporter on Holmes |
| 2003 | Moves to TV3, later political editor |
| 2010 | Co-host of The Nation |
| 2012 | Drive host on RadioLive |
| 2013 | 3rd Degree and The Vote |
| 2017–2021 | Co-host of The AM Show on Three |
| 2022–2023 | Duncan Garner Today on Today FM |
| 2023–now | Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief podcast |
How old is Duncan Garner?
Duncan Garner is 52 as of October 2026. His birthday is 8 March, so he turns 53 in March 2027.
Duncan Garner on The AM Show and why he left
From 2017 Garner co-hosted The AM Show with Mark Richardson, and the morning show made him one of the most recognisable faces on Three. In August 2021 he quit with immediate effect, pointing to the 4am starts. “I have a few important family and personal things that need my attention and now is the right time to go,” he told the NZ Herald. “This place has been home for 20 years and it’s bloody hard to say goodbye but I have to.”
Richardson teared up as he farewelled him on air, and the host chair went to Ryan Bridge, who fronted the show, later renamed AM, until the end of 2023.
Duncan Garner’s wife, ex-wife and former partner
Garner is not married now, and he has not publicly named a new partner. His two best-known relationships are on the public record.
- Mihingarangi (Mihi) Forbes: the television journalist was his partner for around a decade until 2008, and they have two daughters. They were not married, so “Duncan Garner’s first wife” searches usually mean Forbes, who was his partner rather than his wife.
- Deanna Delamere: Garner was married to Delamere for about six years before they separated in 2018. They have a son, Buster.
He has said little about the split, apart from calling the divorce “really long and a bit messy” in a 2024 Herald interview, given when he was a contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island.
Duncan Garner’s children
Garner has two daughters with Forbes and a son, Buster, with Delamere. Wikipedia also records a child from another relationship. The only child he names in his own writing is Buster, who lives with him. “My son and I are tight,” he said in that 2024 Herald interview. His daughters have not been named publicly, and trending.nz will not add details about his children beyond what Garner himself has shared.
Duncan Garner bought a house with his mum and son
His October 2025 Listener column, headlined about moving in with “an older woman and my son”, describes a rural lifestyle block he bought with his 78-year-old mother. “My teenage son, Buster, is right in the mix, too,” he wrote. He has not said publicly which town the property is in. Garner has also spoken warmly of his late father, whom he called “my best mate”.
What is Duncan Garner doing now?
His main job is Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief, a daily news and interview podcast made with MediaWorks since May 2023. For the 2026 election campaign the podcast has added live shows on Sunday evenings, with an election-night special planned for 7 November. He writes regularly for the Listener and was one of 18 contestants on TVNZ’s Celebrity Treasure Island 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duncan Garner married?
No. He and Deanna Delamere separated in 2018 after about six years of marriage, and he has not publicly named a new partner.
Were Duncan Garner and Mihi Forbes married?
No. Mihingarangi Forbes was his partner for around ten years until 2008, and they have two daughters together.
Where can I watch or listen to Duncan Garner's podcast?
Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief comes out daily on the main podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, with live episodes on Sunday evenings during the 2026 election campaign.
When did Duncan Garner leave The AM Show?
He announced his exit in August 2021, effective immediately, after more than four years as host.
Does Duncan Garner write for the Listener?
Yes. He has been a regular Listener columnist since 2022, writing about news, politics and his own life.
