The song I listen to when I need a pick-me-up is…
Yes I Do by my favourite Kiwi band L.A.B! I’ve been their biggest fan since day dot and I even held the first-ever L.A.B four-hour special on my breakfast show on Tūranga FM, playing pretty much all their hits!
The shop I can’t walk past is…
Zara [clothing store]. We don’t have many choices here in Gizzy, so whenever I go to Auckland, magnetic forces always seem to take me there!
My comfort food is…
Thai food! Be it a nice tom kha coconut soup or a nice green curry and some curry puffs to kick it all off. Maybe I should change my name to Mā-thai?
The best thing my parents taught me was…
Noho whakaiti or “humility” – always be humble in what you do. They never actually told me this per say – it was their conduct and actions that taught me exactly how I should be.
My favourite place to holiday in New Zealand is…
Mount Maunganui! If I had to move anywhere tomorrow, it would be Tauranga and the Mount. I just love it there. It’s got a really cool vibe about it and also the early morning walk/run up Mauao is absolutely a must-do every time I’m there too.
The best day of my life was…
Winning the Best Entertainment Presenter award at the New Zealand TV Awards in 2012, when my mum came up on stage with me to accept it. Little did I know she had kicked off her shoes under the table and didn’t have time to put them on as I hauled her up on stage with me!
When I was a child, I wanted to grow up and …
Present Te Karere. I used to watch my idol Tini Molyneux and think, “I wish I knew what she is saying,” as I wasn’t fluent in te reo then. Now I am fluent and Tini is a very dear friend.
The thing I wish would come back in fashion is…
Black karate shoes. They were my go-to growing up and they were so affordable. I’m sure much like Crocs, which have popular embellishments called “Jibbitz”, we could do the same with these shoes!
Stacey Morrison (left) and Mātai will be up early to host Matariki celebrations.
Mātai Smith will host the Mānawatia a Matariki broadcast on Friday July 14, from 6am on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, Three, Prime, Whakaata Māori, Pasifika TV, Radio New Zealand and Stuff.
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