Newshub will extend its round-the-clock news service with an 8pm bulletin to be hosted by journalist Rebecca Wright, it has been announced.
Newshub Live at 8pm will air on a new free-to-air channel called eden, set to launch on March 21. The programme will be a 30-minute bulletin covering the day's news, sport, entertainment and weather, and will include exclusive interviews.
Wright, who has over 15 years television reporting experience, said she was "thrilled" to be joining the Discovery team.
"It's a powerful brand, with a powerful reporting culture and I can't wait to get started bringing news and interviews to our audience at 8pm.
"I'm excited to create an entirely new show, where we can delve into the issues that matter most to Kiwis."
Meanwhile, Director of News Sarah Bristow said Newshub's news offerings were changing along with the needs of its audience.
"Newshub Live at 8pm on eden will deliver a concise hit of the day’s news with in-depth coverage of major events. I’m thrilled that a journalist with the pedigree and integrity of Rebecca is joining us to lead it to success," Bristow said.
"Rebecca comes with a wealth of experience after stints as a foreign correspondent, political reporter and current affairs journalist. She will showcase her many talents through this tightly curated and compelling news bulletin. I'm delighted to welcome Rebecca back into the newsroom at Newshub."
Wright has covered major local events such as the Christchurch earthquakes and three NZ election campaigns. Overseas, she worked as CNN correspondent in the United States where she reported on the Trump Presidency for three years.
She has interviewed high-profile subjects like Joe Biden as he launched his bid for presidency, and Scarlett Johansson on the red carpet, as well as covering the Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein trials, the Mandalay Bay mass shooting, Hurricane Harvey and reporting from the Oscars in Los Angeles and the United Nations.
