After nearly 10 years as 3News and Newshub's main sports presenter, and many more as a reporter, Hamish McKay has decided to leave MediaWorks and seek fresh challenges.
McKay has had a long and celebrated career at MediaWorks, reporting and presenting on TV3 and Radio Live.
"I depart in my 10th year in the sports anchor chair at TV3. That's more than nine years of the just over 26 years TV3 has been on air. A bloody good innings that started nearly quarter of a century ago with an old brick cellphone covering Saturday afternoon sport in the Manawatu," McKay said.
He cited career highlights that include being lead commentator for TV3's Rugby World Cup coverage in 2007 and 2011, through to his coverage of racing, rugby, and a host of other sporting codes.
"But I think the greatest time was the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The lead commentator and sports news anchor for the free-to-air exclusive broadcaster - it was almost a time to pinch myself."
MediaWorks Acting Chief News Officer Richard Sutherland paid tribute to McKay, describing him as one of the country's best sports broadcasters.
"Hamish has earned the trust and respect not just of the country's sporting community, but more importantly that of our audience, through hard work, an encyclopaedic sporting knowledge, and the occasional controversial but honestly held opinion," Mr Sutherland said.
McKay's achievements haven't been limited to reporting on other people's sporting prowess - he also showed his own athleticism during a prostate cancer fundraising cycle tour from Wellington to Auckland, during which he still managed to present the sports news every night.
During his time with MediaWorks, McKay's work has been recognised numerous times by both his peers and the wider public, from numerous TP McLean award nominations through to winning the TV Guide "Best on the Box" award four times.
He will sign off this weekend when he presents Super Sport Sunday on Newshub Live at 6pm.
Newshub.
