Bernadine Oliver-Kerby excited for new wake up call on Coast

Bernadine Oliver-Kerby is moving on from news to host breakfast on Coast with Jason Reeves.

Bernadine Oliver-Kerby is used to early morning starts. After 13 years reading the news on Newstalk ZB - first with Paul Holmes and later with Mike Hosking - she's seen her share of sunrises.

But tomorrow's alarm will bring a new challenge, as the popular presenter moves on from news reading to host Coast's new breakfast show with Jason Reeves.

"I'm really excited for a change of scene and change of vibe," says the busy mother-of-two, who will also present Sky Sport's Winter Olympic coverage next month.

"What's going to be fresh for me is rather than being a part of a radio show, like I was with Mike and news reading for all those years, I'm contributing to it. I get to have some creative licence and that's something I'm hugely looking forward to."

After beginning her career as a sports reporter, Oliver-Kerby went on to become one of the country's leading news readers - on both Newstalk ZB and TVNZ's One News.

But after several years behind the newsdesk, she's looking forward to getting to know the Coast listeners and the chance to speak with them directly.

"I don't think there will be nerves on Monday but just that excitement of the first day of school, what awaits. You just don't know what surprises and challenges will be around the corner but they'll all be good ones I'm sure."

And while in a perfect world, she wouldn't be starting work at "crazy o'clock", Oliver-Kerby says she knows it will be worth it when she walks in the door.

"If you're doing what you love, it doesn't matter what time the alarm goes off."

And it will also be something of a family affair on Newstalk ZB tomorrow, when Kate Hawkesby joins husband Mike Hosking at the station.

She launches her new hosting role at Early Edition on Newstalk ZB from 5am. When the hour-long show ends, Hosking takes over the airwaves with his breakfast show.

Hawkesby began her news career at TVNZ in 1995 reporting, presenting and news reading.

• Breakfast with Jason Reeves and Bernadine Oliver-Kerby is on Coast, weekdays from 6am. Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby is on Newstalk ZB weekdays from 5am.