Quick Facts
Biography
Tamati Gerald Coffey (born 19 September 1979) is a New Zealand politician and former television host and presenter. He was the roving weather presenter for Television New Zealand's (TVNZ) breakfast television programme Breakfast and the host of New Zealand's Got Talent. He has also worked on children's television show What Now, and was the winner of New Zealand's Dancing With The Stars in 2009. In 2014 he was named the Labour Party candidate for the Rotorua electorate at the 2014 general election. He will stand again for the party in the upcoming 2017 election in the Waiariki electorate.
Early life
Born in Lower Hutt and educated at Onslow College, Coffey is of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. He completed an honours degree in political science at the University of Auckland in 2003.
Television career
What Now
Coffey joined the What Now team in February 2004. During his time on the show, Coffey also played character roles most notably, "Whitney" in the "What Now Cheerleaders" and "New Zild's Next Top Model". He mainly traveled around New Zealand in a car called "The Spyrider", to many different towns where weekly, he would film live with the locals and experience what their town had to offer. He hosted the show alongside co-hosts Virginie Le Brun, DJ Vinyl Richie, Serena Cooper and Charlie Panapa.
Breakfast
In September 2007 Coffey left What Now and moved to TVNZ's early morning show Breakfast where he was the show's weatherman and roving reporter. He presented the show alongside Petra Bagust, Peter Williams, Rawdon Christie, Nadine Chalmers-Ross and Corin Dann. Coffey left Breakfast in December 2012 and was replaced in the role by Sam Wallace.
Dancing With the Stars
Coffey was a contestant on season five of the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars in 2009. Partnered with Samantha Hitchcock, Coffey won the series final on 21 April 2009. Coffey's charity was Rainbow Youth, an organisation that supports gay youth.
Intrepid Journeys
As part of series seven of the TVNZ show Intrepid Journeys, Coffey travelled to Oman on the Arabian Peninsula for three weeks. The episode screened on 20 January 2011 on TV One. Coffey is seen engaging in activities including mountain climbing, turtle nesting, dhow fishing cruises and souk shopping.
New Zealand's Got Talent
Coffey was the host of New Zealand's Got Talent in 2012 and 2013.
Seven Sharp
Coffey was a fill-in presenter for current affairs programme Seven Sharp in late 2013 following Greg Boyed's departure from the show.
Political Attempts
On 29 March 2014, Coffey was selected as the Labour Party's candidate for the Rotorua electorate at the 2014 general election. He is 30th on the Labour list. He lost the seat to National's Todd McClay, and was not high enough on the list to get a seat in Parliament. During the campaign Coffey had been used for the Public Broadcasting of the Opening Addresses where he held a staged interview with David Cunliffe. In 2016 he was selected as Labour's candidate for the Waiariki electorate, currently held by Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.
Personal life
After winning Dancing With The Stars in 2009, Coffey came out as gay during an interview with Woman's Weekly and said that he lives with his long-term boyfriend, Tim Smith. The couple announced their engagement on 16 February 2011 and wed in a civil union on 29 December 2011.
Following the 2014 election Coffey elected not to seek a new Broadcasting role and instead went into business opening a Bar in Rotorua with his partner Tim. Their bar is designed to give Rotorua the atmosphere of Ponsonby, Auckland, the name of the bar being Ponsonby Road.
Filmography
- Sparkle Friends (2006-11)
- What Now
- 2 Kids Own Awards
- Whitebait-TV
- Breakfast (weather presenter)
- Intrepid Journeys
- New Zealand's Got Talent
- Neighbourhood