Samantha Hayes is one of New Zealand’s most respected and recognisable broadcast journalists and newsreaders. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has become a household name — trusted by New Zealand audiences for her clear, confident delivery and fearless reporting style.
She is best known for co-anchoring Newshub Live at 6pm on Three alongside Mike McRoberts, a role she held from 2016 until Newshub’s closure in 2024. Following that chapter, Hayes transitioned seamlessly into her new role anchoring ThreeNews, the replacement 6pm bulletin produced by Stuff.
But there is far more to Samantha Hayes than a television screen. She is a mother, a decorated Dancing with the Stars champion, a passionate animal rights advocate, and a journalist who once stumbled into a major international music scoop — at just 17 years old.
This biography covers everything you want to know about Samantha Hayes: her age, career milestones, family life, personal relationships, height, education, and estimated net worth in 2026.
Quick Facts: Samantha Hayes at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Samantha Hayes |
| Date of Birth | April 25, 1984 |
| Age (2026) | 42 years old |
| Birthplace | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (South African / New Zealand) |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (approx.) |
| Education | BA, Media Studies & International Relations — Victoria University of Wellington |
| Profession | Journalist, Newsreader, TV Presenter |
| Known For | Newshub Live at 6pm, ThreeNews (Stuff) |
| Net Worth (est.) | $3–5 million USD |
| Relationship Status | Separated (as of 2023) |
| Children | Two — Marlow and Amaya |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Early Life and Family Background
Birth, Nationality, and Childhood
Samantha Hayes was born on April 25, 1984, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. She is a Taurus by zodiac sign. Though born in South Africa, she is proudly New Zealand in upbringing, identity, and career.
Her family relocated to Milton, Otago, New Zealand, when Samantha was just six months old. Growing up in the small South Otago town, she had a distinctly Kiwi childhood. She has a younger sister and an older brother, and the family was clearly close-knit. The values of hard work and resilience that show up throughout her career were planted in those early years.
Her mother is South African and her father is a New Zealander — and that dual heritage gives Samantha a unique perspective she has carried into her work as a journalist.
It is also worth noting a famous family connection: Samantha Hayes is the niece of Sir Richard Hayes, the helicopter pilot and former chief executive of Southern Lakes Helicopters, who became widely known for his role in high-profile search and rescue operations across New Zealand.
Growing Up in South Otago
During her school years, Hayes was far from a one-dimensional student. She played representative netball for South Otago and was an enthusiastic equestrian, competing in dressage, showjumping, and eventing. These early pursuits show someone who was competitive, disciplined, and willing to put in the hours — qualities that served her well in a demanding broadcast career.
She became a vegetarian at the age of 11, after seeing newborn lambs on a farm and deciding she could not contribute to their suffering. She has maintained that commitment ever since. “I remember looking at the lambs and thinking I didn’t want to eat them,” she has recalled. Her passion for animal rights has remained a defining personal value throughout her adult life.
Education
Samantha Hayes began her tertiary education at the University of Otago, where she also worked at the campus radio station, Radio One 91fm, as an on-air DJ, news editor, and newsreader. This was the beginning of her media career — before she had even graduated.
In 2005, she relocated to Wellington and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies and International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington in 2007. Alongside her studies, she hosted and produced news on Radio Active 88.6FM, including the midday Sam 60 show and the arts and culture programme Caffeine and Aspirin.
Her education gave her the intellectual tools — but it was her hands-on radio work that gave her the practical edge so rare in young broadcasters.
Career in Journalism and Broadcasting
The TV3 Intern Who Broke a Music Scoop
Samantha Hayes first walked into TV3 at the age of 17, as a work experience intern. Most interns fetch coffees. Hayes broke an international news story.
During her very first week, she was sent to interview heavy metal band Megadeth. In that interview, lead singer Dave Mustaine revealed for the first time publicly why he had left Metallica — telling Hayes: “I’d like to say I quit, but I got fired because I was a violent drunk.”
That was not just a lucky break. It showed something about who Hayes was: calm under pressure, genuinely curious, and able to build trust with an interview subject quickly. Those qualities became her career hallmarks.
Radio, Event Work, and the Road to Nightline
While studying, Hayes continued building her broadcast career in radio and events. She worked as an event organiser for the One Love music festival and the Handle the Jandal music video competition. An appearance on TV3’s Nightline in 2006 to discuss Handle the Jandal brought her back to the attention of TV3 bosses.
She was offered a reporting role on Nightline shortly after, in September 2006. In 2007, she was offered the full-time presenting role and moved to Auckland — becoming New Zealand’s youngest-ever newsreader at the time, aged just 23.
Newshub: A Decade at the Top
Over the following years, Hayes worked across a range of TV3/Three programmes including:
- Newshub Late
- 3rd Degree and 3D Investigates
- Newsworthy
- Firstline
- Australia correspondent, based in Sydney
Then came the role that defined her mainstream profile. On 30 May 2016, Hayes stepped into the co-anchor chair at Newshub Live at 6pm, succeeding Hilary Barry alongside the veteran journalist Mike McRoberts. She held that position for eight years.
During this period, she anchored some of the most significant news events in New Zealand and international broadcasting:
- The 2016 and 2020 United States elections
- The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
- Ten days of live coverage from London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022
- The 2023 New Zealand general election
The Lorde Scoop — Again Ahead of the Pack
Hayes was also one of the first journalists to cover the emergence of Lorde — the New Zealand teenager who became a global pop star. Finding new talent before the rest of the media catches up is not luck. It is the work of a journalist who pays attention.
Newshub Cancellation and Three News (2024)
In early 2024, Newshub Live at 6pm was cancelled following major restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery, which operated Three. It was a significant moment for New Zealand journalism.
Hayes did not stay down for long. By May 2024, she and six other former Newshub journalists joined Stuff to launch a replacement 6pm news bulletin — ThreeNews. Hayes became the sole weekday anchor of the new programme, a testament to her standing in the industry and the trust broadcasters and audiences place in her.
This is the chapter that no competitor biography has covered properly — and if you are searching for the most current information on Samantha Hayes’ career in 2025, this is it.
Samantha Hayes Age and Physical Appearance
Samantha Hayes is 42 years old in 2026, having been born on April 25, 1984.
Regarding her height, Hayes has not publicly confirmed an exact figure, though she appears to be approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall based on comparison in broadcast settings. Various sources have cited different measurements, so this figure should be treated as an estimate.
She is well known for her polished, professional on-screen presentation — a look that has remained consistent and trusted across more than two decades of broadcasting.
Personal Life: Family, Partner, and Children
Relationship History
Samantha Hayes has been notably private about her personal life, which makes the glimpses she has shared all the more meaningful to fans.
Her first widely known relationship was with Hayden Aull, a cameraman. The two were together for several years, but the relationship ended. Hayes spoke about the break-up with characteristic honesty, saying it was among the most difficult periods of her life, and that she leaned on her friends and her work to get through it.
Jeroen Blaauw — Partner and Father of Her Children
Hayes later entered a relationship with Jeroen Blaauw, whom she met in a chance encounter in Brazil. The couple had two children together:
- Marlow (born approx. 2019)
- Amaya (born approx. 2021)
Hayes has described both children with obvious adoration. “I adore them. They remain at the centre of our world,” she wrote on Instagram when discussing her family situation.
Separation from Jeroen Blaauw (2023)
In late 2023, Samantha Hayes revealed on her Instagram account (which she shares with approximately 50,000 followers) that she and Jeroen Blaauw had separated. She described it as a personal milestone she needed to share openly with her audience.
“It’s been a tough few months, the most challenging time of my life in many ways,” she wrote, adding that healing is “not a linear process” — some days brighter than others.
Her openness about the experience resonated deeply with followers who appreciated her honesty about a subject many public figures avoid discussing.
As of 2026, Samantha Hayes’ current relationship status appears to be single, though she has not publicly confirmed any new relationship.
Dancing with the Stars
In 2018, Samantha Hayes took part in Series 7 of Dancing with the Stars New Zealand, partnering with professional dancer Aaron Gilmore. She entered the competition having announced it on The Project and dedicated her performance to her chosen charity: New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
The result? Hayes and Gilmore won the series, raising over $120,000 for RDA. The victory meant a great deal to Hayes beyond the trophy — she later became an official ambassador for New Zealand Riding for the Disabled, continuing her commitment to the cause long after the cameras stopped rolling.
Public Speaking and Events
Beyond journalism and television, Samantha Hayes has built a parallel career as an event compere and public speaker. She has hosted:
- New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner (2016–2019, 2021–2022)
- New Zealand Hi Tech Awards (2021)
- An Evening with Sir Richard Branson (2017)
- Kea World Class Awards (2015)
- Air New Zealand Sustainability Breakfast (2018)
- Auckland University of Technology Excellence Awards (2018, 2021, 2022)
This side of her career is almost entirely absent from competitor biographies — yet it is a significant part of who Samantha Hayes is professionally in 2026.
Samantha Hayes Net Worth
Estimating the net worth of broadcast journalists is imprecise, but based on her career duration, seniority as a national news anchor, and additional income streams from public speaking and event hosting, credible estimates put Samantha Hayes’ net worth at approximately $3–5 million USD.
This figure accounts for:
- Two-plus decades of television anchoring salary — senior newsreaders at major NZ broadcasters earn competitive packages
- Event hosting and public speaking fees
- Brand partnerships and appearances
- Dancing with the Stars profile boost
Some sources cite a figure closer to $5 million; others are more conservative. What is not in dispute is that Hayes is among the most commercially valuable broadcast journalists in New Zealand.
Awards, Recognition, and Advocacy
Samantha Hayes has been recognised formally and informally throughout her career. Key highlights include:
- Dancing with the Stars Series 7 winner — New Zealand, 2018
- Helped raise $120,000+ for NZ Riding for the Disabled
- NZ RDA Ambassador (ongoing)
- First to cover Lorde’s emergence as a global star
- Broke international news with her Megadeth/Metallica scoop at age 17
- Consistently ranked among the most trusted news faces in New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions About Samantha Hayes
How old is Samantha Hayes?
Samantha Hayes is 42 years old in 2026. She was born on April 25, 1984, in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Where is Samantha Hayes now?
As of 2025, Samantha Hayes is anchoring ThreeNews, the 6pm news bulletin on Three, produced by Stuff. She is the sole weekday anchor following the closure of Newshub in 2024.
What is Samantha Hayes net worth?
Her estimated net worth is approximately $3–5 million USD, based on her two-decade journalism career, event hosting work, and public profile.
Is Samantha Hayes married?
No. Samantha Hayes is not married. She separated from her long-term partner Jeroen Blaauw in 2023. They have two children together, Marlow and Amaya.
Who is Samantha Hayes boyfriend?
Samantha Hayes does not appear to be in a publicly known relationship as of 2026. Her most recent partner was Jeroen Blaauw.
What is Samantha Hayes height?
Her exact height has not been officially confirmed, but she is estimated to be approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall.
Does Samantha Hayes have children?
Yes. She has two children — Marlow and Amaya — with her former partner Jeroen Blaauw.
Final Thoughts
Samantha Hayes is not just a face on a screen. She is a journalist who has earned every position she has held, from the 17-year-old intern who broke an international rock music story, to the trusted anchor guiding New Zealand through elections, royal events, and global crises.
Her personal journey — building a family, navigating a public separation, and re-emerging as the anchor of a brand-new news programme in 2024 — tells a story of resilience that goes well beyond broadcasting.