Michael Dean Cuts N.z. Ties, Goes ‘home’ To... (Press, 3 March 1978)

Michael Dean, a New Zealand-born broadcaster, has returned to the UK after spending two and a half years in Australia and New Zealand. He is currently living in a Victorian house in London that he feels is haunted by its female builder. Dean began working as a reporter for the BBC's “Man Alive” television programme and is also writing for magazines like the "Spectator" and "New Statesman." Through his recent broadcasts on BBC Radio Four, titled "Home and Away," and a critical article about Australia, he is gaining a reputation in Britain as an anti-Antipodean. In his broadcasts, Dean reflects on his experiences since returning to England. He reminisces about his first day back in London, where he observed a diverse and tolerant atmosphere in a park, contrasting this with his experiences in New Zealand and Australia. He felt out of place in New Zealand, describing a sense of alienation when he engaged with its countryside. Dean expressed his affection for England, which he associates with his upbringing, citing the humanised beauty of the English countryside and the embracing of individual differences. Dean has noted changes in New Zealand during his absence, acknowledging its cultural evolution. He praised local theatre productions and suggested that New Zealand television has surpassed Australian television. However, he expressed that New Zealand culture still struggles with conformity and lacks the diversity seen in England. He remarked on the pressure for conformity in New Zealand society, linking it to what he termed "great New Zealand modesty." Despite his critical views, Dean admitted that his approach to New Zealand audiences might have been miscalculated in his previous television work. He is now engaged in a project examining the class system in Britain, using the hierarchy among British doctors as a case study. Dean, who experiences recurring nightmares about his childhood in Palmerston North, has fully committed to his life in the UK. He lives in Highgate with his wife, actress Christine Collins, and their two daughters. With his affinity for England and newfound career in broadcasting, Dean has decisively left behind any ties to New Zealand and is prepared to spend the rest of his life in Britain.

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