A fresh face is set to join The Hits Tauranga, with Sam Western starting at the station as its new day show host.

Sam joins The Hits Tauranga after a successful stint as breakfast host at Sun FM in Whakatane, where she entertained local audiences with her vibrant personality and relatable content.

Her journey into radio began with a leap from Art School, relocating to Whakatane to pursue her passion for broadcasting.

Over the years, her roles expanded beyond on-air hosting to include video production, promotions, and social media management, making her a versatile addition to The Hits Tauranga.

"Investing in local talent like Sam is crucial for our commitment to community engagement and quality content. Sam's background and dedication to connecting with listeners align perfectly with The Hits." says NZME’s Bay of Plenty GM Greg Murphy.

"The Hits is the place Kiwis go to for real and relatable local stories, big laughs, and the best playlist featuring classic hits from then and big hits from now.

"I know the Tauranga community are going to love Sam."

Sam says she is thrilled to be joining such a dynamic team at The Hits Tauranga.

"Local radio has been a passion of mine, and I look forward to continuing to hang out with our listeners here in Tauranga every weekday!"

Sam will start her role as 9am-3pm host on Monday, July 22.

Listen to The Hits Tauranga on 95.0FM or the free iHeartRadio app.