Melissa Stokes

May 10, 2024 Off By Chloe Lee

Melissa Stokes (born 1978) is a New Zealand news presenter and reporter. She is best known for Presenting 1 News At 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The mother of two joined TVNZ in 2001 as a Breakfast reporter. Since then, she has worked across many TVNZ news shows – Breakfast, Sunday, and Seven Sharp. She reads the weekend bulletins on TVNZ 1.

Melissa Stokes
Melissa Stokes is an Award-winning News Reporter and Presenter.
Quick Facts
Name:	Melissa Stokes
Born:	1978 (age 45 years old)
Place of birth:	Tauranga
Nationality:	New Zealander
Parents:	Roger, Gill Stokes
Education:	NZ Broadcasting School
Occupation:	News presenter, reporter
Spouse:	Dave Pierce
Children:	Hugo, Freddie
Siblings:	Olivia (sister)

Table of Contents

Early Life

Melissa Stokes was born in 1978 in the coastal city of Tauranga, New Zealand. She grew up in Tauranga, describing her childhood as idyllic, and has a younger sister, Olivia.

Her parents, Roger and Gill Stokes, owned fabric stores, where she worked as a teenager. “Dad always says he fired me, and I always say I quit,” she laughs.

Stokes completed high school and attended broadcasting school in Christchurch. She moved with her family to Christchurch at 16 years old. Her uncle, who worked for TVNZ, inspired her to be a TV journalist.

Education

Melissa studied at NZ Broadcasting School. She interned and then worked at Prime News’ Christchurch office in 1999.

Career

Stokes has been in the media industry for over twenty years. She joined Breakfast as its Christchurch reporter in 2001 and moved to Auckland to report for TV One’s 6 pm bulletin after three years.

While working at TVNZ, the award-winning reporter covered many major stories and events, such as the Beijing Olympics, the Christchurch Earthquake, and the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Melissa was based in London, working as a 1 News‘ Europe Correspondent for two years (from 2006 to 2008). She covered stories, including conflicts in Syria and Israel.

In a bid to discover fresh news updates, she would spend the night in Gaza – traveling in and out of bomb shelters. She even drove from Syria to Lebanon to see the conflict from both sides.

In 2010, she started to present many news stories on TVNZ. Stokes anchored the 6 pm weekend bulletins on 1 News in 2019. As a veteran news and television personality, she has won several awards.

Melissa has also hosted top events, including Business Awards and Charity fundraisers.

Screenography

Melissa Stokes at 1 News — *Melissa Stokes as the host of 1 News on the weekends.*

Newsreader on The Rehearsal (2016).
Presenter on The Crowd Goes Wild (2018).
Reporter on Close Up (2007).
Reporter on Sunday (2002 – 2009).
Newsreader on Midday (2003 – 2018).
Reporter on Tonight/ 1 News Tonight (2012 – 2013).
Reporter on Prime News (1999 – 2001).
Newsreader on Breakfast (2001 – 2018).
Subject on Holmes (1999).
Reporter on Rugby World Cup (2011).
Newsreader on TV One News (2004 – ongoing).
Reporter on Election Night Coverage (2014).

Personal Life

Melissa Stokes is married to Dave Pierce, a cameraman. The duo has two children – Hugo and Freddie.

Stokes, her sister, and her father underwent a counseling session the day before her mother died. Her mother had been living with terminal cancer for almost seven years.

The mother of two has Chinese heritage from her mother’s family side. Her maternal grandmother is part-Chinese.

Awards & Recognitions

Melissa Stokes started working at TVNZ in 2001 and has contributed to the growth of the broadcast industry, earning her awards and recognitions.

2000: Qantas Media Awards – Best Junior Reporter – Broadcast Journalism section.
2001: Qantas Media Awards – Best Junior Reporter – Broadcast Journalism section.
2000: Qantas Media Awards – Best Health Report: for Prime News.
2005: Qantas Media Awards – Best News Report: for One News, Waiheke Island Foot and Mouth Scare story.