Jessica Mutch McKay
Born
Jessica Mutch

1985 or 1984
CitizenshipNew Zealand

Jessica Mutch McKay (born 1985 or 1984)[1] is a New Zealand television reporter and political editor.[2]

Career

Between 2006 and 2013 Mutch McKay worked as a gallery reporter.[1][3]

Mutch McKay joined TVNZ in 2008.[2] There she covered several New Zealand elections and by-elections, and elections from other countries such as the 2007 Australian election and the 2012 United States election.[1] She was the 1 News Europe correspondent between 2013 and 2015.[2][1] She returned to New Zealand in 2012 to host Q+A, a weekly politics talk show. She left this role in 2018 to become TVNZ's political editor.[2][1] During the COVID-19 pandemic Mutch McKay led political coverage of the government's response to the pandemic, as well as the Wellington protest.[3] She covered the 2023 general election, co-hosting the election night coverage for TVNZ, and hosted and moderated two debates between the leaders of National and Labour: Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins.[2][4][3] Mutch McKay announced her departure from TVNZ in early 2024 to work for ANZ as the head of government relations and corporate responsibility.[2]

Personal life

In 2015 Mutch started dating Iain McKay.[5] He is a bodyguard in the Diplomatic Protection Service, who has protected prime ministers Sir John Key, Bill English, and Jacinda Ardern.[6] The two talked online for months until he flew to Paris to meet her, during her role as TVNZ's Europe correspondent. McKay moved from Wellington to Auckland to live with Mutch six months later. They became engaged in December 2017,[5][7] after McKay proposed with a sponge cake with the text "Will you marry me?"[8] McKay made an appearance in a viral photograph during the 2017 election, where he stood next to Ardern. He was dubbed a "hipster" bodyguard, and was praised for his beard.[5][6] Mutch and McKay were married in August 2018 in the Mudbrick Vineyard of Waiheke Island. Matty McLean was the celebrant.[7]

Mutch McKay became a mother in October 2019, to a daughter.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jessica Mutch to replace Corin Dann as TVNZ's new political editor". Stuff. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clark, Poppy (1 January 2024). "TVNZ political editor Jessica Mutch McKay leaves network after 15 years". Stuff. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Political editor Jessica Mutch McKay leaving 1News, TVNZ". 1 News. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "What to know about tonight's TVNZ Leaders' Debate". 1 News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "TVNZ's Jessica Mutch engaged to political bodyguard". Stuff. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Jacinda Ardern's bodyguard's beard amasses fan base". Newshub. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Jacinda Ardern's 'hot bodyguard' marries reporter". Newshub. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "TVNZ's Jessica Mutch McKay and her 'hipster' bodyguard husband are expecting a baby". Stuff. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "TVNZ political editor Jessica Mutch gives birth". NZ Herald. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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