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Samantha Hayes

Newsreader, Reporter

Raised in Aotearoa by a South African mother and Kiwi father, Samantha Hayes completed a degree in Media Studies and International Relations. Her first gig for TV3 was at 17, as an intern. By age 23, the ex-radio DJ was anchoring news show Nightline. She went on to present and report for TV3’s primetime news, and current affairs show 3rd Degree/3D. In 2016 she began an eight-year run as co-anchor of the primetime Newshub bulletin, alongside Mike McRoberts. After the show's cancellation in early 2024, it was announced Hayes would join other Newshub journalists in launching a new, Stuff-produced 6pm ThreeNews bulletin at 6pm.

She has no fear of failure, to a degree. I think she tells herself she won't fail, and that's maybe born into her a bit, too. Most of us, me included, are racked with fear and insecurity, about 'Oh, can I do this?'. She doesn't ever have that. Ex TV3 News and Current Affairs Head Mark Jennings, on Samantha Hayes