Biography
Mike McRoberts was born in Dunedin and grew up in Christchurch. He attended Hillmorton High where he was Head Prefect, Captain of the 1st XV and athletics champion, as well as an academic achiever.
After high school Mike went straight to Radio New Zealand, and after a six-month journalism course at Broadcasting School in Christchurch (paid for by RNZ) he began work as a reporter. By age 22, he was the Christchurch Sports Editor and had his own radio sports programme.
After 10 years with RNZ he moved to TVNZ as a sports reporter, specifically the All Blacks reporter. In 1998, he moved into current affairs with the Holmes Show, where he won a Qantas Media Award and was a finalist in the coveted New York Awards.
Mike moved to TV3 in 2001 on the 20/20 team and for the chance to be the back up anchor on 3 News.
In 2002 he took over the presenting role for 60 Minutes, which the state broadcaster lost to TV3. After only a couple of months fronting the show, he was sent on the assignment of a lifetime – flying to Pakistan to cover the US bombing of Afghanistan.
In 2005 Mike and Hilary Barry took over as presenters for 3 News, and in the past two years he has reported for the station in Afghanistan, Gaza, Pakistan and Beirut. He also finished off 2006 by taking out the Qantas Television Award for TV Journalist of the Year, and by being part of the team that took out the Best News Report award for their work in Gaza.
Mike is married to 60 Minutes producer Paula Penfold and has two young children, Ben and Maia. His interests include rugby, reading and music and he is a patron of Stand Tall (a children’s charity), sponsors a child through World Vision, and supports Plunket.