12 Facts About Bill Ralston

Bill Ralston was born on 1953 and is a New Zealand journalist, broadcaster, and media personality, active in television, radio and print.

Bill Ralston has worked as a political correspondent, fronted the television arts show Backch@t, and was the head of news and current affairs at TVNZ from 2003 to 2007.

Bill Ralston takes a photo of Mark Kellogg, an Associated Press reporter who died with General Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, wherever he goes.

Bill Ralston was shot at a Soweto school during the 1986 rebel Cavaliers tour of South Africa, and told by the Ministry of Information he was not welcome back.

In 1999, an official from the Ministry of Health visited Bill Ralston and threatened to prosecute the magazine under the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, over a cigar review column.

Bill Ralston complained, saying the magazine derived no income from the column.

Bill Ralston hosted the arts and media show Backch@t for the show's three-year run from 1998 to 2000.

Bill Ralston had a goal of reducing the $46 million TVNZ news budget by $4.5 million, and there were a number of high-profile departures from the broadcaster, including Judy Bailey, Richard Long, and Paul Holmes.

Bill Ralston faced disciplinary action in 2006 over an expletive-laden call to a Herald on Sunday journalist, who was making enquires about a homeless cousin.

Bill Ralston resigned from TVNZ on 30 January 2007, prior to an announcement of restructuring.

At the 2016 Auckland local elections, Bill Ralston contested the Waitemata and Gulf ward of the Auckland Council.

Bill Ralston came second in the contest to incumbent councillor Mike Lee and was not elected.