O’Brien was one of several leading candidates to host Breakfast, as revealed by Media Insider earlier.
Mel Chan-Green and Rebecca Wright were also believed to be under consideration by TVNZ, as was former RNZ Midday host Mani Dunlop.
Another possible Breakfast contender, Lloyd Burr – also currently at Stuff – was believed to be a front-runner to join RNZ’s Morning Report, although there is now speculation RNZ is considering someone from overseas, possibly a broadcaster such as US-based Mitch McCann.
Former AM hosts Melissa Chan-Green and Lloyd Burr and (inset) Tova O’Brien.
“Tova brings a wealth of broadcast experience across television and radio, including senior roles at Stuff, Today FM, and Newshub,” said TVNZ executive editor Phil O’Sullivan.
“She’s delivered numerous high-profile interviews with global figures and provided live, breaking news coverage from across Aotearoa and further afield. She’s sharp, energetic, and trusted. Best of all, she understands morning audiences inside out.”
O’Brien was a breakfast host of the short-lived Today FM radio station in 2022/23. She’s best known for her role as Newshub political editor.
Breakfast returns on January 26, but O’Brien’s start date is yet to be confirmed. When she does appear, she will be the show’s 32nd host for what will be its 29th year.
Breakfast has had no fewer than 31 hosts (Eric Young was also an established presenter) over its 28 years on air. Photos / TVNZ, supplied
Her appointment comes under the watch of new TVNZ news and content boss Nadia Tolich, herself at Stuff earlier this year. Tolich was held to a months-long restraint by Stuff.
O’Brien was the subject of a restraint of trade employment dispute in 2021/2022, when she left Newshub/Discovery to join MediaWorks’ Today FM. She eventually lost that case.
An Employment Relations Authority determination found O’Brien had been involved in MediaWorks’ business before her employment with Discovery ended.
“She approved a quote for inclusion in a press release announcing her appointment … along with the launch of a new talk radio brand and allowed her image to be videoed for the purposes of a promotional video for that new brand,” it said.
“I am satisfied there was a prima facie conflict of interest in her involvement in both activities.”
O’Brien was ordered to pay $2000 to compensate Discovery “for the inconvenience and resources expended in pursuing this matter”.
There was neither an O’Brien quote nor a photograph with today’s TVNZ announcement.
Tova O’Brien at the Voyager Media Awards in 2023. Photo / Smoke Photo + Video
O’Brien did not pick up the phone on Monday morning.
In late November, as Media Insider made inquiries about her possible new role, she declined to comment, and apologised for not responding to messages.
A TVNZ spokeswoman said earlier: “We run a confidential recruitment process, so we’re not providing details on who’s applied or how many people have applied.
“For 1News at 6pm we ran an internal process, for our new Breakfast presenter we’re running an internal and external process – both are consistent with our recruitment policy, which has been in place for a number of years.”
New business show
TVNZ is also planning a new business show in 2026, according to a job ad posted earlier this month for a presenter/correspondent.
The ad states that the new role involves “fronting a new business-focused show for TVNZ weekday mornings”.
“You’ll be a dynamic, visionary, credible presenter who will make content unmissable.
“This role demands a leader who inspires ambition, drives creative thinking, and delivers intelligent, compelling storytelling and business content that resonates with audiences across all platforms.
“You’ll set the tone for innovation, champion bold ideas, and create content that informs, entertains and connect [sic] every single morning.”
TVNZ previously had a half-hour business show, between 6am and 6.30am. It announced in December 2011 that it was scrapping that format and incorporating business shows into Breakfast from 2012.
The new role is a further sign of the heating battleground for digital video news audiences in 2026, especially in the mornings.
TVNZ said it was looking for a high-energy, highly engaged presenter with an “informed manner”.
“In this role, you’ll conduct interviews that are informative and credible. You’ll be interested in global economics, the future of technology and be able to seek out local business success stories.
“You’ll create business content which helps to drive audience gains on 1news.co.nz and TVNZ+ and increases ratings and share for relevant age demographics on both linear and digital platforms.”
Herald NOW host Ryan Bridge interviews Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo / Michael Craig
Media Insider revealed this month that NZ Herald owner NZME and TV3/Three owner Sky TV are in discussions to expand the 7am-9am Herald NOW show to Three Now, TV3’s digital platform.
That may pave the way for the Ryan Bridge-hosted show to eventually screen on Three’s linear channel, in direct competition with TVNZ Breakfast.
Herald NOW, which already screens on nzherald.co.nz and YouTube, has a strong business emphasis, with regular appearances from senior BusinessDesk journalist Garth Bray, formerly of TVNZ.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.