23 Facts About Samantha Hayes

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

Samantha Hayes has a younger sister and an older brother.

Samantha Hayes began tertiary education at the University of Otago and finished her degree, a Bachelor of Arts in media studies and international relations, at Victoria University of Wellington in 2007.

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

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

Samantha Hayes first appeared at TV3 aged 17, gaining work experience.

In 2005, Samantha Hayes relocated to Wellington and completed her bachelor of arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington.

Alongside broadcasting, Samantha Hayes worked as an event organiser for popular cultural events One Love music festival and Handle the Jandal music video competition.

In 2007, Samantha 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.

Samantha Hayes has since worked on the programmes Newshub Late, 3rd Degree, Newsworthy and Firstline.

Samantha Hayes held an appointment as the network's Australia correspondent based in Sydney.

Samantha Hayes' reporting has included the documentary series Newshub Investigates: Generation Covid investigating the long term impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on babies and children, and investigating Gisborne's deadly problem with forestry slash washing downstream and onto beaches for Paddy Gower Has Issues.

Samantha 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 Antarctica and Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve.

In July 2018, Samantha Hayes won series 7 of the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars with her professional partner Aaron Gilmore.

Samantha Hayes is an event compere and speaker, hosting events such as the annual New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, the New Zealand Hi Tech Awards, An Evening with Sir Richard Branson, Kea World Class Awards, Air New Zealand Sustainability Breakfast, and Auckland University of Technology Excellence Awards.

Samantha Hayes is on the New Zealand board of the Australasian charity So They Can.

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

Samantha Hayes has two children, born in 2019 and 2021, with former partner Jeroen Blaauw.

Samantha Hayes suffered pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy, leading to caesarean section.

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

Samantha Hayes is a recreational mountain climber, including completing ascents of Ruapehu and Taranaki in New Zealand, and Aconcagua in Argentina.

Samantha Hayes has completed the Kenya Half Marathon in the Masai Mara and Waitomo Trail Run in New Zealand.

Samantha Hayes is the niece of helicopter pilot Sir Richard Samantha Hayes, former chief executive of Southern Lakes Helicopters, who is known for prominent search and rescue operations.