Kate Hawkesby

Who is Kate Hawkesby?

Kate Hawkesby is a New Zealand radio announcer and television presenter who currently works as a substitute breakfast news reader for Newstalk ZB. While working as a reporter, presenter and news reader for TVNZ between 1995 and 2007 she became the youngest person to present a One News at 6 bulletin.

She has worked extensively as a reporter in the field; from reporting live from the Oscars in LA, to flying with the Army in an Airforce Hercules to Papua New Guinea to report on trouble in Bougainville as it edged towards civil war.

Kate Hawkesby began presenting on TV2 Headline News, then fronted the Breakfast and Midday news, job sharing with Simon Dallow.

In 2002, she became the co-anchor of TV One's Breakfast show with Mike Hosking, highlights included co-hosting a week long "road show" of live programmes around the country, and covering the America's Cup races live, as well as interviewing a wide range of newsmakers and politicians.

In 2004, Hawkesby joined Eric Young as host of the late news show Tonight, which she fronted on her own for two years after Young left. She left on maternity leave in late 2006 and has since announced she will not return.

She hosted an impromptu three-hour live breaking news special as Chechen rebels seized a school in Beslan, Russia, and held hundreds of children hostage. As well as presenting Tonight, Hawkesby has interviewed a range of musicians from Brooke Fraser to Bryan Ferry for the show. She got the only exclusive TV interview with Olympic boxer Soulan Pownceby who was convicted of manslaughter. Kate was also a regular fill-in on ONE News.