Media Releases
John Campbell to be new co-host of Morning Report in 2026
Released at 4:15 pm on 18 December 2025
John Campbell Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Renowned journalist and presenter John Campbell will return to RNZ in 2026, as the new co-host of RNZ National’s flagship news programme Morning Report joining Ingrid Hipkiss.
RNZ’s Chief Audio Officer Pip Keane said the field, for what is one of the most challenging and coveted roles in media, was an impressive one. Campbell, named Best Presenter, News and Current Affairs at the recent NZ Screen Awards, stood out throughout the rigorous selection process.
“John’s experience as a journalist and host is exceptional, but equally important is his passion for pursuing the stories that matter and our audience values this strong journalism. He’s also a highly skilled interviewer, and that’s crucial for Morning Report.”
Keane said Campbell will be a key part of RNZ’s dedicated audio plan, designed to grow RNZ National’s audience.
“We know John can build an audience; he added 50,000 listeners to Checkpoint’s audience during his time on that programme.
“I’m looking forward to John joining Ingrid and Nathan Rarere in the Auckland studio, with Corin Dann in his new role as Business editor from Wellington. They’ll be a formidable and entertaining on-air team.”
Campbell said he's listened to Morning Report since it began.
"My parents woke up to it. My childhood mornings echoed to the sound of it. That makes this programme really special to me. My first understanding of journalism would have been from Morning Report. It gives voice to the less powerful and holds a mirror up to New Zealand life. To be able to do that, every weekday morning, with neither fear nor favour, is a such an exciting opportunity.
After three years working in long-form, digital storytelling, Campbell is thrilled to be returning to a daily programme.
"3 News, Campbell Live, Checkpoint and Breakfast were all daily shows. In total, I hosted or co-hosted them for over twenty years. I've missed the racing heart and the urgency and the way broadcast journalism can respond in an instant to the political cycle, and to breaking news."
Campbell started his journalism career in student radio while still at university. He took on a cadetship at RNZ in 1989 before moving to TV3 in 1991 where he worked firstly as a general reporter before moving to the press gallery and then on to current affairs programme 20/20. He presented TV3’s nightly news bulletin for seven years, before hosting his own current affairs programme Campbell Live from 2005 till 2015. Campbell returned to RNZ to host Checkpoint from 2016 to 2018 before moving to TVNZ where he’s held a number of roles, most recently Chief Correspondent. He has won many awards during his career, including being named as Presenter of the Year – Audio for his work on Checkpoint by the Association for International Broadcasting in 2017.
Campbell's start date in 2026 is to be confirmed.
