Samantha Hayes

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 sister and a 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 has been a vegetarian since she was 11 years old for ethical reasons. She said: "I remember looking at new lambs on the farm and thinking I didn’t want to be responsible for them being killed".[4]

In December 2020, Hayes became engaged to Jay Blaauw, with whom she had her first child, Marlow. He was delivered by caesarean section in late 2019 after Hayes suffered pre-eclampsia. In March 2021, she announced she was pregnant with her second child.[5][6][7]

Hayes first began work at TV3 aged 17, gaining work experience. She was initially a journalist and later became a newsreader. She has worked on the programmes Newshub Late, 3rd Degree, 3D which became 3D Investigates, Newsworthy, Nightline and Firstline.[8] 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.[9]

In July 2018, Hayes won series 7 of the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars with her professional partner Aaron Gilmore.[10]