{{Short description|New Zealand television talk show}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox television | image = How's Life (2001-2003) opening title card.png | caption = Opening title sequence in 2002 | genre = Talk show | creator = | developer = Greenstone TV | presenter = Charlotte Dawson | country = New Zealand | language = English | num_seasons = 3 | num_episodes = | runtime = 22–26 minutes | network = TVNZ 1 | first_aired = {{Start date|2001}} | last_aired = {{End date|2003}} }}
'''''How's Life?''''' is a New Zealand television talk show produced by Greenstone TV and broadcast on TVNZ 1 from 2001 to 2003.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=How's Life? {{!}} Series {{!}} Television |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-2003/series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624014837/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-2003/series |archive-date=24 June 2025 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}}</ref> It was hosted by Charlotte Dawson and featured a recurring panel of New Zealand entertainment figures, politicians, journalists and specialists. In each episode, questions sent in by viewers would be discussed by the panellists, who would offer advice and share perspectives. The questions typically concerned interpersonal issues.<ref name=":0" />
== Format == Each episode takes place with Dawson and four panellists seated at a table, with Dawson in the middle acting as the main host. Several questions by viewers are put to the panel each episode, often in the form of a prerecorded video. The panellists would then have an open conversation about the issue, offering different advice and perspectives, and often talking directly to the camera as if they are speaking to the viewer. The format drew comparisons to agony aunt media.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 March 2002 |title=Christine Rankin turns agony aunt |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christine-rankin-turns-agony-aunt/ATUAL32JWAXL2PUVNCUOCP4IVU/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223001141/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christine-rankin-turns-agony-aunt/ATUAL32JWAXL2PUVNCUOCP4IVU/ |archive-date=23 February 2026 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
The show was angled towards a lighter tone, with banter between Dawson and the panellists, light comedy, and tongue-in-cheek questions. However, the show also dealt with questions of a serious nature, including abusive relationships and health issues.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=How's Life? - Episode {{!}} Television |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-episode-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508074534/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-episode-2002/overview |archive-date=8 May 2024 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}}</ref> On at least two occasions, the BSA received complaints about the advice given on ''How's Life?'', but did not uphold them, in part due to the show presenting itself as entertainment.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=1 April 2004 |title=Acclaim Otago Inc and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2004-026 |url=https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/acclaim-otago-inc-and-television-new-zealand-ltd-2004-026/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220143516/https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/acclaim-otago-inc-and-television-new-zealand-ltd-2004-026/ |archive-date=20 February 2023 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=Broadcasting Standards Authority |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2004 |title=Porter and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2004-025 |url=https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/porter-and-television-new-zealand-ltd-2004-025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730034914/https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/porter-and-television-new-zealand-ltd-2004-025/ |archive-date=30 July 2025 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=Broadcasting Standards Authority |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
The production team claimed that at its peak, the show received up to 60 letters and emails a day from viewers seeking advice.<ref name=":0" />
== Panellists == thumb|upright=0.75|Dawson in 2012, who was the host of the show ''How's Life?'' had a recurring panel of co-hosts in addition to Dawson. The makeup of the panel varied during the course of the series. Panellists included media personalities, actors, politicians, authors, and journalists, as well as guests with specialist skills such as private investigators and former military.
{{columns-list|colwidth=10em| * Christine Rankin * Jude Dobson * Julia Hartley Moore * Kerre Woodham * Marcus Lush * Mark Wright * Merepeka Raukawa-Tait * Paul Henry * Peta Mathias * Pio Terei * Robyn Malcolm * Suzanne Paul * Tau Henare * Lani Lopez * Cindy Gibbons * Colin Hogg * John 'Horse' McLeod * Martin Crump * Vena Crawley}}
== Production and broadcast == ''How's Life?'' was developed by Greenstone TV and recorded in Auckland,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> and was loosely inspired by ''Beauty and the Beast'', a 1970s New Zealand show hosted by Selwyn Toogood.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Eleanor |date=4 April 2002 |title=Life is beautiful, take their advice |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/life-is-beautiful-take-their-advice/2E5KVS2LN2UYXJP5UQO7U3QDLQ/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223001637/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/life-is-beautiful-take-their-advice/2E5KVS2LN2UYXJP5UQO7U3QDLQ/ |archive-date=23 February 2026 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> It was produced by Wendyl Nissen and Jo Raj, and was directed by Wayne Leonard, Julia Leonard, and Norman Sievewright at different times throughout the series.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Credits {{!}} How's Life? {{!}} Series {{!}} Television |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-2003/series/credits |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624002926/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-2003/series/credits |archive-date=24 June 2025 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}}</ref> Julia Parnell also worked as production coordinator.<ref name=":3" />
The show was broadcast each weekday on TVNZ 1 during the 5:30pm timeslot.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Raukawa-Tait |first=Merepeka |date=3 March 2014 |title=How I remember my beautiful friend Charlotte Dawson |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/how-i-remember-my-beautiful-friend-charlotte-dawson/WNUNV6MAFZGNQQKSEXBRFGXXOU/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321025342/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/how-i-remember-my-beautiful-friend-charlotte-dawson/WNUNV6MAFZGNQQKSEXBRFGXXOU/ |archive-date=21 March 2025 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Panellist Raukawa-Tait wrote in 2014 that the production team would record 3 to 4 episodes in half a day to meet the schedule.<ref name=":4" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{URL|https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-2003/series|''How's Life''}} on NZ On Screen
Category:2001 New Zealand television series debuts Category:2003 New Zealand television series endings Category:2000s New Zealand television series Category:English-language New Zealand television shows Category:New Zealand television talk shows Category:TVNZ 1 original programming