One of New Zealand's most recognisable faces, Mike McRoberts graced our TV screens for over two decades as the anchor of the six o'clock news bulletin on Newshub, alongside his co-anchor, Samantha Hayes. Mike became a trusted figure in households across the country, delivering the news with professionalism and integrity.
Now, in his role as Te Ao Māori Editor for The National Business Review, Mike develops content focused on the dynamics of the Māori economy, highlighting the contributions and stories of Māori communities throughout New Zealand.
Mike is known for his fearless reporting in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands. His dedication to frontline journalism has earned him a reputation as one of the country’s most respected journalists.
He began his career in 1984 as a cadet at Radio New Zealand before transitioning to television in 1995 as a sports reporter for TVNZ. Mike later joined TV3, where he became a lead correspondent for the 60 Minutes current affairs programme. His reporting extended beyond conflict zones to cover some of the world’s biggest natural disasters, including those in China, Haiti, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, and the Christchurch Earthquake.
As an accomplished author, Mike shared his frontline experiences in his book Beyond the Front Line, providing a personal perspective on the challenges of war reporting and the moments of humanity that emerge in crisis situations.
Throughout his career, Mike has earned numerous accolades, including TV Journalist of the Year in 2006 and News Presenter of the Year in 2017. A keen sports enthusiast, he has also reported from several Rugby World Cups and Olympic Games, showcasing his versatility as a journalist. Mike remains a vital figure in New Zealand media, committed to authentic storytelling and amplifying voices within Māori communities.
Talking Points
Keynote
As the Te Ao Māori Editor for respected business publication NBR and author of the soon-to-be-released book Kōrero i tōku reo – Speaking My Language, Mike McRoberts brings both personal experience and deep research to the conversation around cultural capability in Aotearoa.Keynote
In this engaging and thought-provoking keynote, Mike explores what it means to better understand Te Ao Māori in a modern New Zealand context. With the belief that most New Zealanders already know more than they think – they just need help connecting the dots – Mike invites audiences on a journey of recognition, reflection, and learning.
He shares practical insights grounded in lived experience and journalistic inquiry, helping audiences build cultural awareness and confidence. As he says, “It’s all about joining the dots to help create a picture.”
Mike’s message is anchored by the whakataukī: “Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou” – Seek knowledge for the sake of your wellbeing – reminding us all that understanding and embracing culture is not only good for business and community, but for ourselves.
Video
Mike McRoberts
One of New Zealand's most recognisable faces, Mike McRoberts graces our TV screens weekday evenings bringing us our six o'clock news bulletin with co-anchor, Samantha Hayes. The former 60 Minutes current affairs host whose reporting career spans more than 20 years, is perhaps best known for his journalism work in some of the worlds most dangerous places, covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.Celebrity Speakers Showcase 2025
For award-winning journalist Mike McRoberts, life has been a journey of rediscovery — one that began not so long ago. Growing up in Christchurch, with a Māori dad and Pākehā mum, Mike knew little about his Māori heritage. For years, he called himself “a reporter who was Māori” rather than a “Māori reporter,” keeping his cultural identity at arm’s length. That all changed when he was invited to front a documentary marking 50 years since the Māori language petition was delivered to Parliament — a pivotal moment for te reo Māori. Sitting in the interview chair, Mike realised this story would demand more than reporting; it would require vulnerability, courage, and a deep personal dive into who he really is. In this highlights reel, Mike shares: The emotional experience of reconnecting with his marae and delivering his first formal whaikōrero (speech) The significance of receiving his tā moko, a powerful symbol of identity worn with pride despite the pain The surprising challenges of singing and dancing in te reo Māori on national television How reporting from Waitangi felt different — and deeply meaningful — after learning the language The upheaval of Newshub’s closure and how it opened the door to new possibilities His reflections on exploring what it means to be both Māori and Pākehā in today’s Aotearoa A preview of his upcoming keynote and new book, Speaking My Language, launching in te reo Māori this September No longer bound by the 6 o’clock news desk, Mike is ready to share his voice — unfiltered, honest, and inspiring.Mike was incredibly lovely to work with. Such a humble guy! We've had amazing feedback and we really appreciated how well he deals with the star' factor posing for photos and talking to peop ... keep reading BCITO
Mike was fantastic. He was very aware of some of the issues the Dairy industry is facing at the moment and tailored his presentation to make it relevant to the delegates. He has a great presentation style which is very relaxed but managed to captivate the audience. Mike was also our MC for the dinner. He was very entertaining and professional. Many delegates wanted to speak to him and have photos taken and Mike was more than obliging.
Mike was very professional and was a great MC for our Awards dinner. He made the event run very smoothly and was great to deal with in the week prior to and during the rehearsal on the day.
Mike was the glue that brought our whole event together. He was engaging and an absolute pleasure to work with. He acted as both MC and guest speaker, and tailored his speech to be relevant for our industry and guests. He spent down time mingling with our attendees and really took the time to make everyone feel special. I can't recommend Mike highly enough.
Mike did a fantastic job and we had lots of comments regarding how great he was. We also received a lot of comments on how friendly and down to earth Mike is and people loved his stories. Mike was an absolute pleasure to work with.
Mike was warm, engaging, entertaining, intuitive to the audience and thoroughly professional. At our Gala Dinner he worked beyond his requirements and ensured he spent quality time with our delegates. We have had nothing but positive feedback from our delegates particularly the ladies!
Mike was an absolute pleasure to deal with, from the moment we met online at the briefing we knew we would be in safe hands. He was extremely professional, well spoken and kept everything running as it should.
We were thrilled to have Mike McRoberts as our MC for the RFUANZ Gala Dinner and Awards Evening. Mike was a true professional from start to finish—his ability to pick up on cues and adapt to the flow of the evening made for a seamless experience. He engaged effortlessly with our audience, striking the perfect balance between warmth, humour, and respect for the occasion. His presence brought an air of confidence and polish to the event, and his experience clearly shone through. Mike was also a pleasure to work with behind the scenes—flexible, calm under pressure, and receptive to last-minute adjustments. His professionalism and genuine enthusiasm contributed immensely to the success of the evening. We would highly recommend Mike McRoberts as an MC for any event seeking a skilled, personable, and polished host.
Mike's role as MC has enhanced our conference offering and taken the quality and content up a few levels. His personality, style and approach is something our delegates enjoy. Mike is easy to work with. He is the ultimate professional with a great sense of understanding and humour. His ability to read the room and inject his stories to add to the topic of discussion is highly valued.
