@jonohutchison leaving TV3

3 News reporter Jono Hutchison has announced he is moving to France.

Hutchison, who has been at TV3 since 2005 said he made the decision to move there after his last visit to Paris two years ago.

“I’ve felt a strange kinship with France for a long time. I studied French all the way through high school, so I speak a moderate amount. I want to get my language skills up to a decent level, but I also love the country.” he told Dan News.

Although he has no job confirmed, he hinted at a possible move away from television.

“If possible, I would like to give print journalism a go. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and my recent Asia NZ internship at the International Herald Tribune in Hong Kong helped to reinforce that. Since getting back to New Zealand I have been doing some writing for the Tribune as well as the New York Times, which is, quite honestly, a dream come true.”

Looking back on his time with TV3, he was full of praise for his colleagues and said he felt privileged to have been able to play a part in covering events of national and international significance.

“The most memorable story, for me, was a short piece I did for 3 News at 12 following the Samoan tsunami.  At the airport I met a woman waiting with her daughter for her husband to arrive home. She had been there since 4am, and although she knew he had survived, she didn’t know whether he still had his passport, and had no idea if he would be any of the flights. We were interviewing her when he walked through the arrival gates, and it was one of those surreal, joyful moments that I’ll never forget.”

Hutchison’s last day at TV3 will be February 4.

- Dan News