A lot can happen in a decade – and for Samantha Hayes, it’s been a whirlwind in the very best way. As she gears up to celebrate 10 years at the helm of Three’s 6pm news, she can’t help but wonder where on earth the time has gone. Because while she’s spent the past decade calmly guiding the nation through just about every major story imaginable, it’s what’s happened off camera that’s truly transformed her world.
Back in 2016, when she stepped into the newsreader role alongside Mike McRoberts, she was 32 and single. Fast-forward to 42 and life looks beautifully different. These days, she’s not just one of the country’s most trusted news faces, fronting the flagship ThreeNews bulletin, but she’s also devoted mum to Marlow, six, and Amaya, four.
“It’s been a big 10 years, that’s for sure,” she says, catching up with Woman’s Day on a busy Thursday morning.
“It’s been nice to look back and reflect because there have been some really extraordinary experiences. I’ve met some amazing people, fronted huge news stories, like the pandemic, elections, terror attacks and disasters, and I’ve travelled the world with my job. I’ve become a mum… Oh, and I won Dancing With The Stars too!”
A morning in the life of Sam Hayes
It’s already been a full morning when Sam, who celebrated her 42nd birthday late last month, sits down to chat at her home on the outskirts of Auckland. She’s dropped Marlow at school and Amaya at daycare, and now she’s squeezing in a couple of hours of prep before heading into the ThreeNews studios. With a fuel crisis, global unrest, climate disasters and an election looming, the pace of the job isn’t slowing down any time soon.
“Every week is a big week these days,” she muses.
“The stories just keep on coming. The world is changing and it’s a frenetic daily news cycle.”
A career-defining moment
Looking back on a decade that included some major upheavals for New Zealand’s media, including the shock closure of Newshub and subsequent creation of ThreeNews by Stuff Group, Sam admits she still gets emotional thinking about how it all began. She had spent 10 years at Mediaworks when they shoulder-tapped her for the top job.
“Even though I felt confident I could do the job and had a lot of experience under my belt, it felt enormous because it was something I’d been quietly working towards my whole life,” she says.
“It was the job I always knew I wanted.”
But Sam reveals she very nearly missed it altogether. She was on the brink of leaving New Zealand at the time, disillusioned after two news shows she had worked on were cancelled.
“It got me thinking it was probably a good time for me to head off and do some travelling.”
A dream job realised
Then things moved quickly—Hilary Barry resigned and Sam got the job. The ambitious journalist joined the network as a 22-year-old cub reporter, and saw it as a dream come true.And while she may have missed her OE, the job has taken her further than she ever imagined – from reporting on scientific research in Antarctica and covering Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in London, to Africa, the Middle East and beyond.
Having worked in journalism for 20 years now, Sam might be part of the wallpaper of New Zealand’s media landscape, but she insists she’s just as passionate as she ever was. She occasionally takes a moment to think about where she is and where life might take her, and she always comes back to the fact she wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Why she loves the job
“I adore the job,” she enthuses.
“I love being in a live studio environment. I get to work with the most fantastic people who are incredibly hardworking and talented. It’s a big job. It takes a lot out of you to do it, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I love that feeling of being plugged into what’s going on in our country and around the world, and I don’t want to give that up.”
Thriving under pressure
It goes without saying that Sam’s mastered the art of live TV, but there are still moments that get the adrenaline going – and it’s not just big news events that keep her on her toes.
“Last week, a fire alarm went off at 5.51pm and we all had to evacuate the building,” she laughs.
“We got back in at 5.58 – two minutes before going live! But I actually love that. I thrive under pressure. There’s nothing like a little hiccup to get the heart racing!”
And at home, life is just as chaotic. Having separated from her former fiancé, the father of her kids, in 2023, Sam’s daily juggle is not for the faint-hearted. But it’s the two little people waiting for her at home each night who keep everything in perspective. Motherhood has changed her both professionally and personally, she says.
How motherhood changed everything
“Being an empathetic reporter has always been part of my DNA, but once I became a mum, I felt stories on a much deeper level. Some have been incredibly hard to present – the human tragedy of war, disasters, violent crime… I can’t help but think, ‘What if that was my child?’”
A self-confessed perfectionist, Sam’s had to learn to let some things go and she’s since surprised herself with just how much she can cram into a week.
“What changes the most when you’re a parent is the ability to fit more into your life than you ever thought possible. Motherhood has certainly made me more flexible. It’s made me more accepting of the unexpected things that pop up with kids. “Some days can feel overwhelming, but I just have to take it one step at a time and deal with the next challenge that’s in front of me – a little like getting through a live news bulletin! Somehow you always get to the end and everything’s OK.”
A gentler approach to life
Sam says she used to be tough on herself, but has since learnt to be more forgiving. If she doesn’t manage to tick off her to-do list, she no longer beats herself up about it.
“I have to tell myself it’s fine if all the emails aren’t read or if the house isn’t immaculately tidy. It’s fine if all the balls in the air that I’ve been juggling aren’t quite as organised as I’d like – as long as everybody feels happy, loved and looked after.”
Sam is enjoying this stage of life with her kids. After some “intense” years, they’re out of the baby phase and firmly growing into their own little people. Amaya is the self-appointed boss of the family, while Marlow is a thoughtful and hilarious little boy, who is thriving at school.
Her happiest moments
The broadcaster’s happiest moments are joining the kids for a bounce on the trampoline, going for bike and scooter rides, and simply being part of their lives. The best part of Sam’s day is when Marlow and Amaya climb into her bed at about 6am, when they cuddle and chat until it’s time to get up.
“I still have those moments where I just feel so lucky and privileged that I’m their mum,” shares Sam.
“They’re so clever and curious, and they make me laugh so much.”
While the star admits the ups and downs of the past few years haven’t always been easy, right now, she and her children are happy and thriving. As for her love life, she’s keeping things private… for now.
“All I’ll say is that I’m very happy and enjoying this new chapter,” she smiles.
“Life is good.”
