Mike McRoberts
April 20, 2024Mike McRoberts (born 1966) is a New Zealand television journalist and news anchor. He is best known for presenting Newshub Live at 6 PM on Three since 2005. He joined TV3 as a news reporter in 2001 and started to present current affairs program 60 Minutes in 2002.
McRoberts announced that he will end his news presenting career when Newshub closes on 5 July. He has worked as a radio reporter for a decade and as a sports journalist with TVNZ in the mid-90s.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Mike McRoberts
BORN: 1966 (age 58 years)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Dunedin, New Zealand
NATIONALITY: New Zealander
OCCUPATION: Television journalist and news anchor
SPOUSE: Paula Penfold (m.1995-2017), Heidi Ettema (m.2023)
CHILDREN: Ben, Maia
Who is Mike McRoberts and Where is he from?
Mike McRoberts was born in 1966 in Dunedin, a city in the South Island of New Zealand. He has a Ngāti Kahungunu father and Pākehā mother. He grew up in an English-speaking environment in Christchurch, which disconnected him from his culture.
The news personality grew up unable to speak Māori. As a teenager, he wanted to become a lawyer, but things changed after he attended a high school journalism course run by the Department of Māori Affairs.
Does Mike McRoberts have any Qualification?
Mike studied at Manning Intermediate and Hillmorton High School in Christchurch. Pupils voted him head of the school council in his final year at high school in Christchurch. He earned a journalism diploma from the New Zealand Broadcasting School at CPIT.
Mike McRoberts career: From 1984 till today.
Mike joined the industry as a teenager and has spent over 40 years. He won a Radio New Zealand cadetship in 1984 and six months of journalism training. He became a sports reporter for TVNZ in 1995.
Later, in 1998, he moved to current affairs with the Holmes program in 1998.
McRoberts started his TV3 news reporting career in 2001. He became the host of the current affairs program 60 Minutes in 2002. He presented a 6 PM news bulletin – then 3 News (now Newshub) – with Hilary Barry.
Mike has continued to report for the network covering conflicts in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Gaza, Iraq, and Lebanon. He also covered national disasters – the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
The news reporter became the anchor of now-defunct TV3’s new current affairs show Three 60 in May 2012. He focused on international news, politics, and business. In April 2024, he announced his plan to retire from news broadcasting after Newshub closes on 5 July.
Samantha Hayes posted a tribute to Mike McRoberts after the announcement. She wrote:
“It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. There is no one quite like Mike. A bold, brilliant journalist and caring friend, a Kiwi icon. Try walking down the street with him, and you’ll see what I mean. I adore him, as do Kiwis countrywide.”
Apart from news reporting, Mike has made several reality television appearances. He entered season 8 of Dancing with the Stars in 2019. He left the show after being the fourth eliminated contestant.
McRoberts appeared in season one of The Masker Singer NZ in 2021. After making three appearances, he left the show in episode five following an elimination.
Has Mike McRoberts received any Awards?
After spending many decades on set, McRoberts has bagged many awards and nominations. He won the TV Journalist of the Year at the 2006 Qantas Television Awards. He received the Best Presenter at the New Zealand Television Awards in 2017 and 2018.
The renowned news anchor was named rugby journalist of the year for his coverage of the All-Black tour of South Africa in 1996. He won the TV Journalist of the Year for 3News at the 2006 Qantas Television Awards.
He was a nominee for Best Current Affairs Reporting for a Weekly Programme/One-off Current Affairs Special (with Jon Stephenson) for 60 Minutes, ‘Bread Basket, Basket Case’ story at the 2009 Qantas Television Awards.
Mike won the Best Presenter – News and Current Affairs for Newshub – at the 2018 Huawei Mate20 New Zealand Television Awards. He received the Best Presenter – News and Current Affairs for Newshub Live at 6 PM at the 2017 New Zealand Television Awards.
In the 2012 New Zealand Television Awards, Mike was a nominee for Best News Or Current Affairs Presenter for 3 News, Earthquake Anniversary piece. He was nominated for Best News or Current Affairs Presenter (with Hilary Barry) for 3 News, Aisling Symes bulletin at the 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards.
Mike McRoberts Family: Getting married again.
Mike McRoberts married his first wife, Paula Penfold, in 1995, and they separated in 2017. The share had two children – Ben and Maia. His daughter, Maia, was one of the two people assaulted at the Six60 concert in Western Springs in Auckland in 2020.
The television journalist married publicist Heidi Ettema in 2023. The ceremony and reception took place at The Glasshouse in Morningside.
The original venue moved off due to the Auckland floods. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary on 3 February with a trip to Tasmania.
“Last minute venue changes, new seating plans, and room designs thrown in … but it worked out perfectly – a stunning day full of love and laughter.”
Heidi, the bride, appeared in a beautiful lace gown from Rish Bridal, while Mike, the groom, wore a Crane Brothers suit. The duo first met at a gig in 2017 when a mutual friend introduced them.
