MĀTAI SMITH REVEALS ‘HOW TRAGEDY TRANSFORMED ME'
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|July 5, 2021
The host of TVNZ’s 9 Lives opens up about love, loss and a midlife crisis
Elisabeth Easther
MĀTAI SMITH REVEALS ‘HOW TRAGEDY TRANSFORMED ME'

When TV presenter Matai Smith was a kid in Gisborne in the ’90s, life was tough. “I grew up in quite a poverty-stricken area,” he recalls. “The Mongrel Mob was down our street, Black Power lived near my grandparents and gangs were just part of my environment.”

But Matai’s parents worked incredibly hard to give him and baby brother Hakim everything they needed. “Dad worked at the fisheries and mum was at Wattie’s, so we weren’t the richest whanau in our neighbourhood, but we were rich in aroha. Mum and Dad also did their darndest for us to have the best education. If there were school trips, we went on them and there was always pocket money for books.”

Their hard work paid off. In 1995, while in 7th form, Matai was offered numerous tertiary scholarships and was also a finalist in the national Maori speech competition. Now 44, he remembers, “Mum and I flew up to Auckland together. You can just picture this country bumpkin in the bright lights of the big city!”

The Aotea Centre was packed as Matai gave his speech about the many faces of racism. “I came second overall and I won the impromptu section, but best of all, unbeknownst to me, Hinewehi Mohi, producer of TVNZ’s Marae, saw it.”

Having heard he wanted to get into TV, the acclaimed musician offered Matai a role as researcher on her series and, after much soul-searching, the young Gisborne lad declined all the scholarships and opted to take up the wonderful opportunity in Auckland.

Following three years with Marae, Matai then spent a decade working in children’s shows, including Pukana, Aotearoa’s first kids’ series in full te reo.

Denne historien er fra July 5, 2021-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 5, 2021-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZSe alt
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 mins  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024