Sonny Ngatai

About

Sonny Ngatai is a young Māori presenter, humanitarian, and funny guy with a passion for change. Like and follow to keep up with Sonny's journey.

Story

Sonny Ngatai was raised in Rotorua and went to kohanga reo before his whanau relocated to
Titahi Bay (Wellington). His parents were of the generation that were not exposed to the reo,
however they had a deep desire for their tamariki to grow up learning te reo. Sonny was
awarded the highest achievement any Young Māori orator can receive, the winner of the
National Korimako Award two years in a row at Ngā Manu Korero Nationals in 2013 and 2014.
As well as this, Sonny spent his last high school year as head Boy for his prestigious boarding
School Hato Pāora College. When Sonny was young, he wanted to be a doctor – until everyone
started telling him he should be on TV.
Sonny went on to the University of Auckland to study medicine with the Chancellor's scholarship
for top Māori and Pacific Island scholars in his back pocket. However reality soon caught up
with Sonny and his passion for TV and media was unlocked. Sonny was spearheaded by the
producer of the first ever rangatahi webseries Hahana with a deep passion for promoting Te
Reo Māori and inspiring youth, he quickly accepted the challenge.
Advocating for rangatahi maori has always been a commitment Sonny has felt to uphold, and
this passion saw him step up as a NZ Unicef Ambassador. Sonny Ngatai and Hahana go hand
in hand. While on the show Sonny has had a platform to expose and give a Rangatahi point of
view to issues that have affected Rangatahi Māori. He was very vocal during the poi controversy
last year, and with Hahana they gave the girls from Turakina Maori girls college a chance to talk
about their school spirit. Sonny continues to shed light on issues that Rangatahi are passionate
about, and continues to encourage Rangatahi to feel Māori, speak Māori and be Māori “I reckon
a bi-lingual NZ will see many rangatahi maori feel safe, comfortable and brave enough to speak
the reo, we know they have the reo but are too shy to speak it.” While showcasing young Māori
talent, Sonny is also a facilitator of the young Marists, where they run leadership programs for
student leaders all around NZ and run social justice programs for students in some of New
Zealand's most disadvantaged communities, such as Te Whaiti and Minganui.