Neil Waka 

Experienced broadcaster Neil Waka is the Breakfast news presenter on Thursday and Friday mornings.

Neil's broadcasting career started over 20 years ago in radio, where as a journalist he became a specialist news and current affairs talkback host. 

He moved into television with TV3 in 1989, reporting for general news and presenting news updates.  Neil presented, reported and produced a TV sports show for three years, then became the presenter for Nightline. Prior to leaving TV3 in 1998, Neil was weekend news reader and the network trainer for reporters and presenters.

After nine years at the station, Neil went to the US to train fulltime as a professional kick-boxer, also training with and working as a corner man for World Heavyweight kick-boxing champion Ray Sefo, regularly travelling to Japan for K1 events.

On his return to New Zealand Neil began working back in radio, before being offered the news presenter job on Breakfast Television with TVNZ. 

The following year he became news presenter for ONE News Late Edition, then took over as 6pm weekday sports news presenter working along side Judy Bailey. In Septmeber 2007 he became the first presenter on the 4:30pm bulletin.

Neil has travelled the world extensively but considers one of the highlights of his television career, presenting sports news for ONE News from the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Neil is an active sports competitor.  Besides being a former kick-boxing champion, Neil has played representative Rugby League, Basketball and Rugby.  He has also competed in over 10 triathlons, run two marathons, is a qualified Life Guard and plays in several Touch Modules in the summer.

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