Stuart Dye: Wood goes for low-key personality

On the evidence of last night's Close Up, TVNZ is sticking to its promise to steer clear of personality-driven current affairs.

Presenter Susan Wood was restricted to a handful of introductions or links, a two-minute interview and a brief farewell.

Perhaps it was something to do with the stories, but her interview style remains pleasantly encouraging rather than confrontational.

The lead story, an interview with Rein Terpstra, husband of Willie who has undergone a stem-cell transplant, was as sensitive as one might hope.

But the story was billed as the tale behind the controversial practice of stem-cell surgery. We were left to wonder whether Mr Terpstra had any reservations about the operation.

Wood was also content to keep much suggestion of personality out of her links.

Referring to the item on an 8-year-old haemophiliac who is costing $100,000 a month, she said: "What a smile".

And of the lifestyle segment on foil-boarding, a new style of surfing: "Woohoo, looks great."

Close Up

Interview with Rein Terpstra, the husband of Kiwi stem-cell transplant patient Willie, live from Beijing.

The story of an 8-year-old haemophiliac who has cost the health service $2.1 million. Is it too much to pay?

A lifestyle piece on the new surfing buzz for adrenaline junkies: foil-boarding.