Wendy Petrie is 55. The former 1News at Six presenter was born in August 1971, has been married to television producer Ross Peebles for more than 20 years, and the couple have three children, Addie, Liv and Zach. These days she freelances in broadcasting and helps out at the family’s sign business on Auckland’s North Shore.
For 14 years she read the 6pm news on TVNZ. Six years after losing that job in a Covid restructure, her life looks very different, with two daughters at university in California and a business in Albany. Here is what she has said about all of it.
How old is Wendy Petrie?
Wendy Petrie was born in August 1971, which makes her 55 as of October 2026. Her exact birth date and birthplace have not been made public.
Wendy Petrie’s TVNZ and news career
Her path into television started on the catwalk. In the early 1990s she modelled while studying journalism, and she told Newstalk ZB her favourite job was the Benson & Hedges Fashion event, because “lots of my friends were involved.” From there the career ran like this:
- Radio first. She began as a writer for Independent Radio News bulletins.
- TV3. She worked as a reporter, newsreader and weather presenter on 3 News and filled in on Nightline.
- Canada, 2001. She read the news for CTV NewsNet and was presenting when the September 11 attacks happened.
- TVNZ, late 2003. Back home, she joined TVNZ as a fill-in presenter across its bulletins.
- The 6pm desk, 2006. She replaced Judy Bailey as co-anchor of the 6pm news alongside Simon Dallow.
- The last bulletin, 30 August 2020. Her final night as the 6pm anchor.
Wendy Petrie and Simon Dallow
Petrie and Dallow read the 6pm news together from 2006 until her exit in 2020.
What happened to Wendy Petrie at 1News?
Her role disappeared in TVNZ’s Covid-19 cost cuts in 2020, and she stepped down as co-anchor in August that year. Looking back in early 2023, she told the NZ Herald, “All I’ve ever done for the last 14 years is read the news,” and added, “I do feel freer now.”
What is Wendy Petrie doing now?
She never fully left the news. By 2023 she was reading the news on Newstalk ZB and voice-coaching TVNZ reporters and Les Mills presenters. In October 2025 she described herself as a freelance broadcaster: filling in on 1News bulletins at weekends, reading afternoon news on Newstalk ZB, and taking MC and hosting jobs.
Wendy Petrie and Speedy Signs
The “new business” people search for is Speedy Signs in Albany, on Auckland’s North Shore. She and Ross own it. Ross runs it day to day and she helps when she can, as she explained to Now to Love in October 2025.
Who is Wendy Petrie’s husband?
Her husband is Ross Peebles, a television producer. In 2025 the couple marked 20 years of marriage, which puts their wedding around 2005. They are still together, and he is her business partner at Speedy Signs.
Wendy Petrie’s children
Petrie and Peebles have three children. Their two daughters both went to San Diego on sports scholarships. This is what she shared about them in a July 2026 interview with Now to Love:
| Child | Age (July 2026) | What she has shared |
|---|---|---|
| Addison (Addie) | 22 | Went to the University of San Diego on a rowing scholarship in 2021, graduated in economics and has a graduate job in California |
| Olivia (Liv) | 20 | Studies at San Diego State University on a swimming scholarship |
| Zach | 16 | Still at school in Auckland |
With the girls overseas for most of the year, having everyone home is rare. “It absolutely is my happy place having them all here,” she said.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wendy Petrie have twins?
No. Her three children are different ages: Addie, Liv and Zach.
Is Wendy Petrie still married?
Yes. She and Ross Peebles marked 20 years of marriage in 2025.
Does Wendy Petrie have a son?
Yes, one son, Zach, the youngest of her three children.
Is Wendy Petrie on Newstalk ZB?
She has read news on Newstalk ZB since leaving the 6pm desk, and in 2025 she was covering its afternoon news bulletins.
When did Wendy Petrie leave the 6pm news?
Her last bulletin as 6pm co-anchor was on 30 August 2020.
