Hayley Holt, Former Breakfast Host, Eyes Reality TV Comeback After Year Off Screens

Key facts

• Hayley Holt, 45, has been off television screens for over a year since leaving TVNZ in late 2024.
• She won the reality show Celebrity Treasure Island in 2007, which she calls one of the best experiences of her life.
• Holt previously appeared on Dancing With the Stars NZ and the UK's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer.
• She lives in Warkworth with her fiancé Josh Tito, their two sons Raven (3) and Kingston (2), and her parents Robin and Murray.
• A brief stint in a sales role in 2024 taught her to wait for a job that suits her family.
• Holt describes herself as a 'reality TV mega fan' and would love to be on a show with a camera crew on a tropical island.
• She was part of a team of lesser-known Kiwis on Treasure Island, competing against celebrities like April Ieremia and Monty Betham.

A Star Ready to Return

Hayley Holt, the former Breakfast presenter who has been absent from New Zealand television for more than a year, says she is ready for a comeback. The 45-year-old mother of two told Woman's Day that her dream job would involve a camera crew, a tropical island, and plenty of drama. 'I'm a reality TV mega fan,' she said. 'I watch pretty much all of it – and I just love it! It's that ability to see the human condition in action. The relationships, the drama, the gossip and intrigue. I can't get enough!'

The Treasure Island Triumph

Holt's career has taken many turns – from professional snowboarder to dancer, political candidate, and TV presenter – but she rates winning Celebrity Treasure Island in 2007 as one of the best experiences of her life. 'Honestly, it was the most intense thing I've ever done,' she said. 'I know when you're an outsider watching it on TV, it looks like we're all just playing games. But when you're in it, it feels like the most important thing in the world. You're hungry, you're competing for food, you're desperate to win… Something plays with the psychology and it becomes so meaningful.' At the time, Holt was new to fame, having done only one series of Dancing With The Stars NZ. She was placed on a team of other lesser-known Kiwis, competing against established celebrities like April Ieremia, Monty Betham, and Rebecca Loos. 'We were the Z-listers!' she laughed. 'I remember making it to the semi-finals and a producer said to me, “You weren't meant to still be here!” No one thought anyone from our team would get that far. But I just put 100% into it and looking back, there wasn't much tactic – it was just grit. I was in my element.'

From Dancing to Broadcasting

Her win propelled her to household-name status, leading to appearances on two more seasons of Dancing With The Stars NZ and its UK equivalent, Strictly Come Dancing, as a professional dancer. 'It was a big responsibility to come up with a dance each week and try to get the celebrities up to speed,' she said. 'It was stressful, but it was an incredible thing to be part of. I made lifelong friends on that show.' She later moved into broadcasting, co-hosting TVNZ's Breakfast show until she left in late 2024 amid widespread restructuring at the network.

Life After TVNZ: A Year of Uncertainty

Holt did not expect to be out of work for so long. A short-lived stint in a sales role last year taught her to hold out for a job that works for her family. 'I don't want to rush into something that isn't quite right again,' she said. She now lives with her fiancé Josh Tito, a tradie, and their two sons, Raven (3) and Kingston (2), at her parents' home in Warkworth. While they had hoped to be back in their own home by now, Holt sees upsides to intergenerational living. 'It's not always easy, but it's pretty beautiful having three generations under one roof,' she explained. 'The boys love their nana and poppa so much – they always have someone to turn to as there's always an adult available. They follow their poppa out on the farm, help him with the jobs and ride on the four-wheeler down the driveway to check the mail with him. It's tiring for my parents, but the kids are in heaven.'

What Comes Next

Holt is focusing on the positives, cherishing time with her children rather than stressing over job hunting. She eagerly anticipates the return of Celebrity Treasure Island, reflecting on her own experience. Her openness to a reality TV role suggests she may soon reappear on screens, perhaps on the very show that launched her fame. 'I'm a reality TV mega fan,' she reiterated, hinting that her next move could be in that genre.

The bottom line

• Hayley Holt, off screens for over a year since leaving TVNZ, is actively seeking a television comeback, preferably in reality TV.
• Her 2007 win on Celebrity Treasure Island remains a career highlight and a testament to her grit.
• She has turned down unsuitable jobs, learning from a brief sales role to prioritize family-friendly work.
• Holt lives with her fiancé, two young sons, and her parents in Warkworth, embracing intergenerational living.
• She is a self-described reality TV mega fan, which may guide her next career move.