Mike McRoberts was named Best presenter of news and current affairs at the New Zealand Television Awards, in Auckland, on 22 November 2018. Photo: Getty Images / Michael Bradley
Newshub presenter Mike McRoberts has announced he will retire as a news presenter when Newshub has its last 6pm bulletin.
That date will be 5 July and end a 23-year long career with Newshub, formerly TV3.
It comes just days after Stuff and Warner Bros. Discovery announced Stuff would take over the 6pm bulletin when Newshub's newsroom closes down.
In a statement, McRoberts said: "Ka mutu taku haerenga hei kaikawe kōrero, he haerenga i hīkoi tahi ai tatou - my journey as a news presenter is coming to an end, a journey we have walked together. Newshub's last six o'clock bulletin... will be my last presenting the news.
"When I started in this industry as a teenager 40 years ago I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams what an incredible adventure it would be.
"I feel so privileged to have had the opportunities I have had, none more so than in the past 23 years at Newshub, 3 News and 60 Minutes.
"This journey has taken me to some of the biggest stories around the world and to every corner of Aotearoa."
Mike McRoberts. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
In the statement, McRoberts thanked the "wonderfully talented" people he had worked alongside, those who had trusted him with their stories, and the audience.
"This is my 20th year presenting the six o'clock news and it has been the greatest honour representing the very best in the business.
"For the last eight years I've shared that honour with my co-host Sam Hayes and will continue to do so for the next 11 weeks. I couldn't think of a better way to end my presenting career."
McRoberts said he would miss the whanaungatanga of the Newshub team - but it was the right time to step away and pursue other opportunities.
"E kore e mutu taku mihi nui ki te aroha me te tautoko a te katoa i whai wāhi. I am forever grateful for the love and support of everyone involved."
Newshub's interim senior director of news Richard Sutherland said McRoberts was a man of immense mana.
"He has told stories of great consequence with passion, humanity, and dignity.
"He is a true leader, who I have been proud to work alongside. He kotuku rerenga tahi. A white heron flies once."
McRoberts' co-anchor Samantha Hayes said on social media that thinking about his last bulletin brought tears to her eyes.
"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.
"That last bulletin together is going to be emotional for all of us. It will also mark an historic moment for New Zealand's media industry. The end of a story spanning 35 years that has been crafted every day by Three's tenacious, fearless and marvellous news team. Mike has been there at 6pm for every major news event of the past two decades. A calm, warm, reassuring voice telling Kiwis what is happening and helping us to make sense of it."
Hayes said she had learned a lot from McRoberts and had gained a lifetime friend.
"Thank you Mike, for your support, advice and aroha - for all the one-liners and laughter. That I have been able to spend these years with you in the studio is one of my life's great treasures."
In August 2022, McRoberts appeared on re_covering, a podcast produced by RNZ, where he spoke of his time reporting in Gaza.
McRoberts had lobbied his 3 News bosses to get him to the frontline of the war. For weeks, he found himself reporting from the centre of one of the deadliest conflicts between Israel and Palestine in decades.