Attitude is everything: Maz lives the dream

If you want to feel inspired – or if you just need reminding why radio is such a cool gig – look no further than Mariner Fagaiava-Muller.

At just 21, Maz is living the dream, hosting Drive on Flava, NZME Radio’s classic hip hop and R&B music network.

And as Maz’s first live break of the year shows, his enthusiasm is off the charts.

“This is a big moment for me! Samoan. Tongan. Raised by a single mum. Working in radio wasn’t in the realm of possibility. It’s not like every Tom, Dick and Harry was pursuing this career path. It was always ‘Pick up a trade. Do construction. You’re brown. You’re built. Go play rugby. Better yet, even work on the factory floor.’”

@mazfxgaiava Living the fkn dream. Grateful. Day one of the @flavaradio Drive Home for 2023 🙏🏽 #fyp #nz #polynesian #radio #samoa #tonga #southauckland ♬ original sound – Mariner

Maz was last year honoured at New Zealand’s annual Impact Awards, for his work as a journalist in creating greater representation in newsrooms.

There, Maz opened up about his foray into media

“When I was a kid, I didn’t see myself on the news. I didn’t hear myself on the radio. I never read about myself in the newspaper. And when I did, it was bad news. So that’s what drove me into working in the sector.”

“I remember when I was 14, I rang up Auckland University and I was like, ‘Hey, I want to know what subjects I need to take now to ensure that I get into journalism school?’ They thought I was a little bit gung ho. A little bit too keen for journo school.”

But attitude is everything.

One of Maz’s favourite pieces of advice is “The thing that sets you apart from everyone else in the room is you! Your peers might stand with two feet on the floor, but you stand for more.”

“So, be more.”