Samantha Hayes Explained

Sam Hayes
Birth Name:Samantha Hayes
Birth Date:25 April 1984
Birth Place:Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Education:University of Otago (BA)
Occupation:Journalist
Known For:Newshub Live at 6pm
Relatives:Richard Hayes (uncle)

Samantha Hayes (born 25 April 1984) is a New Zealand journalist and newsreader, best known for co-anchoring Three's flagship news programme Newshub Live at 6pm.

Early life

Hayes was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, to a New Zealand father and a South African mother.[1] The family relocated to Milton in Otago, New Zealand when she was six months old. She has a younger sister and an older brother.

She received her education at Tokomairiro High School.[2] [3] She studied at the University of Otago and finished her degree, a Bachelor of Arts, Media & International Relations, at Victoria University of Wellington in 2007.

Hayes played representative netball for South Otago while at high school and competed in dressage, showjumping and eventing.

Career

Hayes has worked in the media industry as a broadcast journalist and news anchor in New Zealand since 2001.

Hayes first appeared at TV3 aged 17, gaining work experience. During her first week at the programme, she was sent to interview heavy metal band Megadeth and came back with an international scoop when lead singer Dave Mustaine revealed for the first time why he left his previous band Metallica, telling Hayes "I'd like to say I quit, but I got fired because I was a violent drunk".

During her studies at Otago University, Hayes worked at the student radio station Radio One 91fm as an on air DJ, news editor and newsreader. In 2005, Hayes relocated to New Zealand’s capital city Wellington to finish her Bachelor's degree, where she hosted, produced and announced news on Radio Active 88.6FM, including the midday Sam 60 show and the arts and culture-focused Caffeine and Aspirin.[4]

Alongside broadcasting, Hayes worked as an event organiser for popular cultural events One Love music festival and Handle the Jandal music video competition. Hayes’ appearance in a media interview for the 2006 Handle the Jandal event on TV3’s Nightline brought her back into contact with news bosses at TV3, and she was offered a reporting role on Nightline soon after in September 2006.[4]

In 2007, Hayes was offered the full time presenting role on Nightline, for which she moved to Auckland to become New Zealand’s youngest-ever newsreader at that time, aged 23.[5]

She has since worked on the programmes Newshub Late, 3rd Degree, Newsworthy and Firstline.[6] She is currently the news anchor, alongside Mike McRoberts, at Newshub Live at 6pm. She commenced this role on 30 May 2016 after Hilary Barry's resignation.[7]

During her career at Three, Hayes was appointed the network’s Australia correspondent based in Sydney, and anchored Newshub special programmes, including the 2023 New Zealand General Election,[8] the 2016 and 2020 US Elections, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,[9] and ten days of live coverage from London after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 including a special programme on Her Majesty's funeral.[10]

She’s also reported for the flagship documentary series Newshub Investigates: Generation Covid investigating the long term impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on babies and children, and for Paddy Gower Has Issues, investigating Gisborne’s deadly problem with forestry slash washing downstream and onto beaches.[11]

Hayes was one of the first reporters to cover the emergence of international music star Lorde when the latter was 16 years-old, and has reported from places as diverse as Antarctica (on three separate expeditions) and Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve during the Great Migration.[12]

After Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed plans to liquidate its Newshub news service in April 2024, Stuff reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to produce Three's 6pm news bulletin. In early May 2024, Hayes and six other former Newshub journalists were recruited into Stuff's replacement 6pm news bulletin, with Hayes to anchor the programme.[13]

Other media and public roles

In July 2018, Hayes won series 7 of the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars with her professional partner Aaron Gilmore.[14] The victory raised over $120,000 for the charity New Zealand Riding for the Disabled, for which she is now an Ambassador.[5]

Hayes is an event compere and speaker, hosting events such as the annual New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner (2016–19, 2021–22),[15] the New Zealand Hi Tech Awards (2021),[16] An Evening with Sir Richard Branson (2017),[17] Kea World Class Awards (2015),[18] Air New Zealand Sustainability Breakfast (2018), and Auckland University of Technology Excellence Awards (2018, 2021, 2022).[19]

Hayes is on the New Zealand board of the Australasian charity So They Can.[20]

Personal life

Hayes has been a vegetarian since she was 11 years old for ethical reasons.

Hayes has two children, born in 2019 and 2021, with former partner Jeroen Blaauw. Hayes suffered pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy, leading to caesarean section.[21] [22] [23]

In November 2023, Hayes announced on Instagram that she and Blaauw had ended their relationship.[24]

Hayes is a recreational mountain climber, including completing ascents of Ruapehu and Taranaki in New Zealand, and Mt Aconcagua in Argentina. She has also completed the Kenya Half Marathon in the Masai Mara and Waitomo Trail Run in New Zealand.[25]

Hayes is the niece of helicopter pilot Sir Richard Hayes, former CEO of Southern Lakes Helicopters, who is known for prominent search and rescue operations.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hayes goes from hunting deer to shooting the news . 23 March 2014 . 11 March 2019. . David Farrier . Farrier . David.
  2. News: Twelve Questions: Samantha Hayes . 3 July 2018 . . 28 August 2014.
  3. News: Mann . Britt . My Sunday: Samantha Hayes . 3 July 2018 . . 28 January 2018.
  4. Web site: 45 years of Radioactive.FM . . 19 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Introducing Our New Ambassador, Samantha Hayes . Riding for the Disabled NZ . 19 April 2024.
  6. Web site: Samantha Hayes . . 3 July 2018.
  7. News: Samantha Hayes announced as Newshub co-presenter with Mike McRoberts . 3 July 2018 . Newshub . 29 May 2016.
  8. News: Election 2023: Newshub's Decision 23 election coverage, live debate times and dates revealed . 19 April 2024 . Newshub . 7 September 2023.
  9. News: The Official Spinoff TV-watching Guide to the Royal Wedding Day . 19 April 2024 .
  10. News: Everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth II's funeral . 19 April 2024 .
  11. News: Paddy Gower Has Issues: Expert says log that killed 11 year-old on beach was freshly cut . 19 April 2024 .
  12. News: Samantha Hayes: My top 10 stories from 10 years at TV3 . 19 April 2024 .
  13. News: Samantha Hayes to front Stuff’s new 6pm TV bulletin alongside other key talent . 11 May 2024 . . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511030940/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350269580/samantha-hayes-front-stuffs-new-6pm-tv-bulletin-alongside-other-key-talent . 11 May 2024. live.
  14. News: Dancing with the Stars winner Samantha Hayes 'never' expected to win . 3 July 2018 . . 2 July 2018.
  15. samanthahayes . ChbwYDiOISF . New Zealand Business Hall of Fame gala dinner . 19 August 2022.
  16. samanthahayes . CPcbEwXHx0q . NZ Hi-Tech Awards . 29 May 2021.
  17. samanthahayes . BSIEEzqA1MP . An Evening with Sir Richard Branson . 27 March 2017.
  18. samanthahayes . 4qIYkNh8Rt . Kea World Class Awards . 3 July 2015.
  19. samanthahayes . BLzkO8Vg4mz . Auckland University of Technology Excellence Awards . 21 October 2016.
  20. Web site: Samantha Hayes: Co-anchor for TV3’s Newshub Live . . www.celebrityspeakers.co.nz . Celebrity Speakers NZ . 13 May 2024 .
  21. Web site: 2021-03-29. Newshub's Samantha Hayes pregnant with second baby. 2021-03-29. Stuff. en.
  22. Web site: Samantha Hayes announces she is expecting her second child. 2021-03-29. . en-NZ.
  23. Web site: Henger. Karyn. Samantha Hayes' Baby Marlow Joins Her On The News Desk And All We Can Say Is Awwww. 2021-03-29. Now To Love. en.
  24. Web site: Jack . Amberleigh . 2023-11-04 . Newshub's Samantha Hayes announces split from partner . 2023-11-05 . Stuff . en.
  25. . Celebrities for NZ's Largest Ever Trail Run in Waitomo . Scoop.co.nz . Waitomo Trail Run . 2024-05-13.
  26. Web site: Big Bang Goes Ahead of Where Oscar Hasn’t Gone Before . Wakefield . Phil . 8 May 2013 . ScreenScribe.TV . 13 May 2024 .