Samantha Hayes is a distinguished journalist and presenter, currently serving as a senior correspondent and presenter at Stuff. With a career spanning over 15 years in the television industry, Samantha has established herself as a leading figure in New Zealand broadcasting.
Samantha's journey began at 17, when she landed an international scoop during her work experience with Nightline, eventually becoming the country's youngest newsreader at 23. Over the years, she has fronted numerous popular news programmes and reported on global events, from Antarctic climate change research to the Syrian refugee crisis and the rise of Kiwi pop icon Lorde.
As the co-anchor of Newshub Live at 6pm since 2016, Samantha has covered significant events such as the US Elections and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Her reporting has taken her to Europe, Africa, America, India, Antarctica, and the Middle East, where she has interviewed global leaders and celebrities.
Samantha has hosted prestigious events including the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame inductions and An Evening with Sir Richard Branson. She won the 2018 season of Dancing with the Stars, raising over $120,000 for NZ Riding for the Disabled.
A graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Media Studies, Samantha is passionate about environmental issues and philanthropy, supporting charities like KidsCan and So They Can. She enjoys mountaineering, baking, and spending time with her two children.
Talking Points
Keynote Summary
Samantha Hayes, renowned national news anchor and presenter, delivers a keynote rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights. From her beginnings as the youngest news anchor in New Zealand to anchoring high-stakes broadcasts alongside Mike McRoberts, Samantha exemplifies resilience, professionalism, and the ability to thrive under pressure. She shares strategies for maintaining composure and delivering accuracy during critical moments, drawing from experiences such as anchoring coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's death in London.Keynote Summary
Reflecting on her journey, Samantha explores the discipline required to sustain consistent excellence in broadcasting, emphasising preparation, adaptability, and perseverance. She discusses overcoming criticism and vitriol early in her career, offering practical tips on mastering nerves and building confidence in challenging situations. Her narrative extends to the transformative power of embracing challenges, including her expeditions to Antarctica for climate change research, illustrating how stepping outside comfort zones fosters personal growth and resilience.
Samantha also delves into personal struggles with mental health, advocating for awareness and resilience while drawing parallels between professional triumphs and overcoming personal hurdles. Balancing a demanding career with motherhood, Samantha shares insights into effective time management, support networks, and maintaining well-being, reflecting on her rural upbringing and early career milestones.
Through her keynote, Samantha Hayes inspires audiences with a compelling narrative of perseverance, achievement, and finding balance amidst life's challenges, resonating with professionals, parents, and individuals navigating their own paths to success.
Samantha is professional, well-prepared, approachable and brings just the right tone and style to our Excellence Awards. We had numerous staff members comment on how great she was, and hopin ... keep reading AUT
Samantha was absolutely outstanding at our Awards and the feedback we received was overwhelming as to her professionalism and polish and the overall vibe she brought to the event.
Samantha was amazing as usual. Despite her having a migraine, she turned up well prepared, looked fab and did an incredible job as MC at our awards ceremony. The highlight was her doing some breaking news' when Winston Peters announced his decision to form a coalition with Labour mid-ceremony. Feedback from staff about Sam is great and she is so lovely to deal with, always accommodates selfie requests and is so approachable and everyone gets a buzz that she is part of our awards evening.
Samantha was awesome the perfect fit for this event. She was friendly and happy to stand afterwards for over an hour while people were photographed with her. Would definitely use her again.
It was an absolute pleasure working with you and we are very glad that we chose you to MC our event. Your poise, grace and talent for being an MC is second to none. You took the time to understand our event and what was important to us and executed everything to perfection. We have also received some exceptional feedback in regards to you from patrons in the Fashion Village and we would highly recommend you to any other company as an MC.
