The show she’s loved for seven years was axed late last year but if history is anything to go by, Melanie Kerr (43) will land on her feet. Aside from her work as Good Morning’s advertorial host,
the bubbly presenter is a marriage celebrant and has held an eclectic range of jobs – from a flight attendant and a guide dog trainer, to driving trucks in a gold mine and working on a 545,000ha cattle station.
“I’ve always loved being around people,” says Melanie. “I grew up on a dairy farm in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and I developed an understanding of the Maori language and culture, which allowed me to relate easily to folk from different backgrounds.”
After she left school, Melanie moved to Australia and lived in the barren outback. “I worked on a cattle station. Our nearest neighbours were 60km away and the closest town was a further 250km. We had no power and the mail truck came with supplies every two weeks.” Melanie returned to New Zealand and found work as a guide dog trainer. But after two years, she left that job to become an international flight attendant for Air New Zealand.
Her career changed yet again when she started her family, moving to the Bay of Plenty town of Opotiki to raise sons Fletcher (16) and Pierce (15). Desperate to work, the young mother rocked up to the local radio station and asked for a job. She nabbed the role as a local announcer and her love of broadcasting began.
“Give me a microphone and a room full of people and I’m on my way,” she says. “I loved working in radio. I started getting recognised around town – my voice, that is. I remember going into a petrol station and someone heard me. He was shocked and told me, “When I heard your voice on the radio, I always thought you were a Maori girl!”
Seven years ago, Melanie moved to Auckland and auditioned for the role on Good Morning. “As an advertorial host, I had to make sure the clients were happy and comfortable. They had to trust you and know that you weren’t going to lead them down a strange path with your questions.”
Truck-driving was added to her resumé in Western Australia.
Working on Good Morning also gave Melanie the chance to meet and become friends with one of her idols – Suzanne Paul. “Suzanne is such a vivacious and beautiful person,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot from her.” Melanie’s also spent six years working as a celebrant. “I enjoy seeing how in love couples are with each other. Officiating funerals is also a huge honour –helping to celebrate a life and alleviate the pain for families.”
But the job she cherishes the most is that of mum to Fletcher and Pierce, as well as August (4), her son to partner of 10 years Grant Reece (43). She and Grant were best friends at primary school, but they’ve yet to tie the knot. Melanie jokes that she’s waiting to find a celebrant as thorough as herself. Now that the TV One show has ended, Melanie is confident another adventure is in store. “I feel a teeny-tiny bit excited about what’s around the corner!”
