Anika Moa: Kiwi artist and television presenter on adjusting to health afflictions and returning to the screen for Anika Moa Unleashed

Anika Moa is a ubiquitous presence in the New Zealand media and entertainment industry. 

A singer-songwriter, former radio host, and television presenter, she’s been involved in the industry for over two decades. 

Moa began working as a radio host for NZME in August of 2019, starting at the Hits and later moving over to Flava’s Breakfast show which she hosted alongside Stacey Morrison and Mike Puru, before leaving in late 2022. 

She told Newstalk ZB’s Francesca Rudkin that while she does miss the industry, leaving has made a difference to her health. 

“I was so relieved,” Moa revealed. 

“I’ve had nearly a year off, apart from filming TV shows, which is pretty easy, and I feel so much better.”  

Being so involved in the industry and trying to raise her children at the same time was taking its toll on her. 

“I feel happier as well,” she told Rudkin. “I’m not juggling fifteen balls in the air and I’m just focusing on being a mum.” 

Moa revealed that people were actually surprised she lasted as long as she did on radio, as she’s been known to flutter from project to project as a result of her ADHD. 

“I get bored really easily,” she said frankly. 

“There’s pros and cons to having ADHD.” 

Having a neurodiversity like ADHD is something of a battle between your brain constantly seeking new and interesting experiences and the limitations of your mental and physical wellbeing.  

“On the one hand I want to rest, but on the other, I just want to meet people.”  

Moa said that her ADHD diagnosis wasn’t a surprise for her, and personally, there wasn’t much change, but she has realised the impact her ADHD has on her relationships, both good and bad. 

“When you’re so close to someone and you can be up and down in moods, or bored or not bored, or wanting this or wanting that, you realise how that affects the other person.”  

“All those kind of things are quite conflicting.” 

ADHD is not the only diagnosis Moa has received in the past few years, as she learned in 2022 that her Type 2 diabetes had become Type 1. 

“It’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me because it’s really kicked my ass, but it’s been the worst thing that’s happened to me. But it’s happened.” 

On top of raising her children, Moa has been taking on a few other projects as well. 

A big one has been the filming another season of her light-hearted interview show Anika Moa Unleashed, featuring iconic kiwis such as Sir Ashley Bloomfield and Angus Ta. 

“I love interviewing people,” Moa told Rudkin.  

“And it’s not me interviewing them, it’s my other person, it’s one of my many people.”  

Each interview is packed full of activities, painting, rugby training, Moa getting to the core of each notable kiwi. 

Season three of Anika Moa Unleashed is out on TVNZ+ now. 

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