A few years ago, Matthew Tukaki was living life at full speed.
As a businessman, broadcaster, commentator and Māori advocate, he was deeply engaged in public life, working across governance, media, social advocacy and community leadership.
Then everything changed.
What followed was a medical crisis that few survive.
Tukaki suffered an aortic dissection, an aneurysm and a cerebellum stroke — three catastrophic events that on their own can be life-threatening. Together, the odds of survival are extraordinarily slim.
Yet somehow, he survived.
The battle that followed would become one of the most difficult periods of his life.
Recovery was not measured in weeks or months. It became a daily fight to regain independence, rebuild physical capability and reconnect with the life that had been abruptly taken from him.
For Tukaki, survival was only the beginning.
The physical challenges were immense, but so too were the emotional and psychological realities of navigating life after a major stroke.
Like many stroke survivors, he faced the difficult task of reconciling who he was before the event with who he was becoming afterwards.
The journey demanded resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to keep moving forward.
Years later, that fight continues.
But it is also a story of remarkable reinvention.
Today, Tukaki is once again a significant voice in public life.
He leads one of New Zealand’s leading Māori media operations, overseeing Radio Waatea and the Waatea News network, platforms that provide daily coverage of politics, health, social issues, business, iwi affairs and matters affecting Māori communities across Aotearoa.
His advocacy work has also expanded in the years since his stroke.
Tukaki has become a prominent voice on issues ranging from suicide prevention and mental health to health equity, housing, education and social justice.
His lived experience has given him a unique perspective on healthcare, recovery and the challenges faced by those navigating serious illness and disability.
That perspective now informs much of his public work.
Whether interviewing political leaders, speaking on national issues or advocating for whānau, Tukaki frequently draws attention to the importance of equitable access to healthcare and the need for systems that work for everyone, particularly Māori communities who continue to experience poorer health outcomes than the wider population.
Those close to him say his experience has only strengthened his determination to speak out.
The stroke may have changed the course of his life, but it did not diminish his willingness to challenge decision-makers or advocate for communities often left unheard.
His story is also a reminder of the growing impact of stroke and cardiovascular disease in Aotearoa.
Health experts continue to warn that Māori experience disproportionate rates of heart disease, stroke and other chronic conditions, often at younger ages and with more severe consequences.
For Tukaki, the issue is deeply personal.
His survival is a testament to modern medicine, but also to personal determination and a refusal to give up.
Today, he continues to use his platforms to amplify voices, hold power to account and advocate for better outcomes for whānau across New Zealand.
In many ways, the life he built before his stroke never fully returned.
Instead, he built something new.
A second life shaped by survival, service and a renewed sense of purpose.
And while the fight continues, so too does the work.
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