Screenshot of Gordon Dryden carrying out an interview with NZ on Screen. Photo: NZ on Screen
Former prominent broadcaster and educationalist Gordon Dryden has died aged 91.
After working as a journalist on several newspapers while still a teenager, Dryden's broadcasting career began in the 1960s as a rugby league commentator.
He was a pioneer of talkback radio in New Zealand, starting a daily talk show on Auckland's radio I in 1973, and setting up the first all-newstalk station in 1980, Radio Pacific.
In the 1970s he was also known as a combative television interviewer, with former prime minister Robert Muldoon refusing to be interviewed by him and describing him as "the most dangerous man in New Zealand".
His NZ on Screen biography notes that he was among those who pushed for the establishment of a second TV channel for Aotearoa and he travelled to several countries to prepare a case for having a privatised channel.
After leaving broadcasting, Gordon Dryden took up the cause of education, writing a book on the best ways to learn.
The Learning Revolution sold millions of copies worldwide and was translated into 23 languages.
In 1990 Dryden set up child development charity Pacific Foundation, with Lesley Max.
Dryden also worked in politics. He was an early public relations adviser to then Labour Party leader Norman Kirk in the 1960s and was prominent in setting up the New Zealand Party with businessman Sir Bob Jones in the 80s.
