Spiritual Awakening Hayley's Healing Journey

The TV star reveals she finally feels like a grown-up

- Sophie Neville

As she approaches her 40th birthday, Breakfast host Hayley Holt can look back safe in the knowledge she’s packed a huge amount into her first four decades. She’s travelled the world as a professional dancer and champion snowboarder, bravely overcome a drinking problem and even had a shot at politics before landing the coveted TVNZ 1 role two years ago.

But the down-to-earth star, who recently marked five years of sobriety, tells us it’s only recently that she’s started feeling like a grown-up.

“I’ve definitely matured this year,” she says, as we catch up at TVNZ headquarters in Auckland. “I’ve got a proper job, which I absolutely love, and I’ve finally moved out of a flat and into an apartment on my own. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt like an adult – it’s a good thing, but it’s also a bit scary!”

While she admits to feeling “a little shocked” about the prospect of turning 40 in July next year, she’s determined to ensure she’s mentally and physically in the best space possible at this stage of her life.

A huge proponent of “self-care”, Hayley regularly visits a Maori spiritual healer and practises yoga and meditation.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself,” she explains. “When you have a history of an alcohol problem, there is a lot of damage that comes from that, so I’m working on making sure I heal myself as much as I can. But generally, I think it’s a good idea to have a bit of a spring clean on myself occasionally.”

And she urges others to do the same. “Women really need to be doing this more, but the problem is we get so busy and it’s the first thing to fall off the list. But if you make time for self-care, everything else around you becomes easier to cope with and handle. It’s so important.”