Anika Moa gets first 'proper job' - hosting The Hits Drive with Stacey Morrison and Mike Puru

Singer and broadcaster Anika Moa has finally landed what she's calling her first real job.

From Monday, September 30, Moa will co-host The Hits Drive radio show alongside current hosts Stacey Morrison and Mike Puru.

"I'm looking forward to finally making a decent regular living instead of just being a bum musician, bum TV entertainer, model and all those other things I do in my spare time," said the 39-year-old, adding it will be the hardest she has worked in her life, "ever".

The Auckland-born, Christchurch-raised Moa's quirky and fearless humour has made her a popular radio and TV personality.

She's hosted her own chat show on Maori TV, guest-hosted TVNZ One's flagship current affairs show Seven Sharp and starred in an interview-based web series, also for TVNZ.

She's also been a regular voice on The Hits Drive, appearing as a studio guest twice a week for several weeks.

The news was announced by Morrison and Puru on air on Friday.

Morrison had encouraging words for the newest member of the team, saying, "this is a jandal you can handle".

Puru added: "Anika brings a bit of an edge, a lot of unpredictability and a ton of fun. She always says what she thinks, which is one of the reasons why Kiwis love her. Stace and I never really know what's happening when Anika is on."

The Hits content director Todd Campbell said: "What we have brought together here is three incredibly talented people prepared to share their lives, have a laugh at themselves with their audiences and have a blast."

Moa has released multiple "grown-up" country-pop- rock albums, two compilations of songs for children and a record with Boh Runga and Hollie Smith.

The Hits is owned by NZME, which also publishes the Herald.

This article was first published on the NZ Herald and is republished here with permission.