TONI'S FAMILY JOY 'MY MOST EXCITING CHRISTMAS YET'

The beloved broadcaster talks tinsel, tur key, traditions and tears

- Sophie Neville

Christmas arrived early at TV and radio star Toni Street’s place this year. The tree went up at the start of November, decorations were dusted offand carols have been blaring ever since. The Coast breakfast host might be a festive fanatic, but even for her, this was a little more enthusiastic than usual.

“We decided to go hard and early,” laughs Toni, borrowing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s famous line. “We really needed to break the monotony of lockdown and lift everyone’s spirits. The kids loved it and excitement levels have been super-high ever since.”

She might be smiling, but Toni is the first to admit she’s ready for a holiday. The 38-year-old mum-of-three is used to being busy, but 2021 has been one to top them all. She released a bestselling book, hosted the TVNZ coverage of both the America’s Cup and the Olympic Games, moved into a new house, home-schooled her children throughout Auckland’s long lockdown and all the while continued to rise at 4am each day for her radio gig.

Fortunately for Toni, she has a month of rest and relaxation ahead of her, and she simply can’t wait for December 18, when she and husband Matt France will board a plane with their children Juliette, nine, Mackenzie, six, and Lachie, three, to fly to her hometown of New Plymouth. It’s been almost five months since they saw Toni’s Taranaki-based parents Geoff and Wendy, and the kids (and grown-ups!) can barely contain their excitement.