Samoana Matagi: He Survived 14,400 Volts, Lost Both Hands, Now He Helps Thousands

Greg Newbold is best known as one of New Zealand’s top criminologists. He spent 30 years at Canterbury University and became to go-to guy whenever the main stream media wanted someone to comment on crime.But his back story is jaw dropping. In the 1970s, when Greg was in his early 20s, he was a heroin user and dealer, socialising in the same circles as New Zealand’s most infamous drug dealer, Terry Clarke aka Mr Asia. He eventually got busted and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison.Then somehow… he comes out the other side, gets a PhD and completely reinvented himself as one of New Zealand’s leading criminologists and university professors. And he has just put out a new book too called Dream Dealer. https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/biography-memoir/dream-dealerIn this conversation, Greg opens up about how he became addicted to heroin, the reality of life at Paremoremo maximum security prison back then, and the surprising lessons he learned about human nature while locked up alongside some of the country’s most notorious criminals.At nearly 75 years old, Greg’s still running, swimming, lifting weights, and reflecting on a life that’s been chaotic, controversial, and ultimately incredibly fulfilling.***Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate. Like a lot of Kiwis, I spent years saying, “I’ll look at my KiwiSaver account later.” Turns out later comes around faster than you think, and the decisions you make now could be the difference between counting every dollar in retirement or having the freedom to take that trip you've always talked about. I switched my KiwiSaver account to Generate after they came on board, and honestly, I should’ve done it sooner. They’re an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with strong long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their friendly advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom. No pressure, no judgement — they’re just there to help wherever you’re at in your investing journey.  The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. You can view their Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider information at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser. This is general information only, and I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.  The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Dom Harvey Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast, its producers, or any sponsors associated with the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is one of those people who quietly makes New Zealand a better place.Tony Scott (aka Scottie) has spent more than 30 years in the fire service. And for the past 8 years he has been Crew Chief at Auckland Airport.Chances are, even if you don’t know his name, you’ve seen the impact of his work.Scottie is the man behind the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge: the iconic annual event where firefighters climb 1,103 steps in full gear to raise money for Blood Cancer New Zealand.  What started as a small idea with a handful of firefighters has now raised almost 20 million dollars for Kiwis battling cancers. And this episode is being released to coincide with the 21st anniversary of this iconic Kiwi fundraiserAs well as the Sky Tower challenge, we find out who Scotty is- his early years, the stutter he had to overcome to get the job of his dreams, the emotional toll of recovering bodies and saving lives, his reaction when he was awarded a Queens Service Medal and much more.After spending a couple of hours with Scottie, you discover pretty quickly that this isn’t about publicity or recognition for him. He’s just one of those genuinely good humans who gets a lot of fulfilment out of helping other people.There’s a lot of heart in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are so lucky to have Dr Lucy Hone in New Zealand.She is one of the world’s leading voices on resilience and grief. Her TED Talk, Three Secrets of Resilient People, has been viewed more than 9 million times and is one of the most watched TED Talks in the world.She’s also a mother who endured the unimaginable loss of her 12-year-old daughter Abi in a car accident in 2014.In this episode we talk about Abi- who she was, what she loved, the life she might have lived… but we also go much deeper than that.We talk about how people survive the things they think will destroy them.Why grief isn’t something you just “get over.”And why the famous five stages of grief might actually be doing more harm than good.Lucy also opens up about forgiveness, parenting through trauma, post-traumatic growth and the reality of rebuilding a life after everything changes.This is a conversation about loss. But it’s also a conversation about living. And I’d like to think it is a tribute to the life of Abigail Anne Hone. A life that was cut tragically and painfully short.***  Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate. Your KiwiSaver account is one of those things that’s easy to set up and then completely ignore whilst you’re hoping it’s all working out in the background. I had a chat with a Generate KiwiSaver adviser when they came on as sponsor, and it genuinely gave me clarity on what it means to have a KiwiSaver plan, and whether mine was actually set up to perform over the long-term.  Generate is an award‑winning KiwiSaver provider with a strong track record of long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom. No pressure, just clear advice to help you feel confident you’re on track.The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their PDS and Financial Advice Provider info see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick warning before we get into this episode: this conversation includes discussion around gang life, drug use, childhood sexual abuse, mental health, suicide, and trauma. Please listen with care.Lee Tepuia is a father of seven, a former Rebels Motorcycle Club member, a 501 deportee, and now a qualified youth worker helping vulnerable young people through the gym he founded in Blenheim called Box on Boxing. And in 2026 he was awarded a Local Hero medal at the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the year awards.But that description barely scratches the surface.Lee grew up carrying trauma most people could never imagine. He found brotherhood in gang life, spent years building a life in Australia, then had it ripped away when he was detained and deported back to New Zealand under Australia’s 501 laws, despite never being convicted of a crime there.At his lowest point, Lee says he didn’t want to be here anymore.But somehow, through boxing, therapy, community, and a decision to finally confront the pain he’d spent decades trying to outrun, he rebuilt his life from the ground up.What struck me most about this conversation is that Lee doesn’t try to present himself as a saint. He owns his mistakes. He talks openly about addiction, violence, mental health, shame, and the consequences of his choices. But he also talks about redemption, purpose, and what it actually takes to change.This is not a podcast about glorifying gangs.It’s a conversation about trauma, survival, accountability, forgiveness, and hope.Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor Lifeline 0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 or free text 4357 (HELP) Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0) Youthline 0800 376 633 or free text 234 Samaritans 0800 726 666 Aoake Te Rā 0800 000 053 Bereaved by suicide service.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Bunce is regarded as one of the great All Black Centres of all time. He first got selected when he was 30 and went on to play 55 tests, including a rugby world cup final.At the time of recording this episode Frank was on TV in New Zealand on the reality show “Celebrity Treasure Island” so we discuss why, at the age of 64, he agreed to do it. Thanks to the team at TVNZ for helping set this conversation up.I don’t think Buncey has ever spoken this openly or at this length ever before which makes this episode pretty special.We talk about Franks journey from growing up in South Auckland with 7 siblings and working on the back of a rubbish truck to the world stage, representing both Samoa and the All Blacks and being part of the transformational shift from amateur rugby to the professional era.There are some incredible rugby stories here- including his very special relationship with Jonah Lomu and Eric Rush and his love-hate relationship with coach Laurie Mains. But this episode goes far beyond sport.Frank opens up about aging, identity, fatherhood, friendship, grief, retirement, and the emotional challenges that come when elite sport suddenly disappears. This is a reflective and also very funny conversation with one of New Zealand sport’s great characters.*****Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsor, Generate.We’ve all got that one mate who’s convinced they’ve worked out how to beat the market, usually with a lot of confidence and no actual expertise. So, here's your reminder not to get caught up in the noise and trust the real investment experts at Generate. I sat down with a Generate KiwiSaver adviser when they came on as sponsor in 2023, and it was one of those conversations that made me think, why didn’t I do this earlier? A Generate adviser can help you figure out what fund type is best suited to your KiwiSaver goals.  Start planning now! Book a no cost  chat with an adviser at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their PDS and Financial Advice Provider info see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures.Past performance does not guarantee future returns.And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flynn Chisholm, or as he is known by his 121,000 Instagram followers, "Fizzy Sends" is the New Zealand record holder in a breath-taking activity known as “death diving.”He is also a speed climber. And at this time of releasing this episode he is about to attempt a record for the most pull ups.Flynn is one of New Zealand’s most exciting extreme athletes.  In this podcast, Flynn shares the mindset, discipline, and faith behind a sport that most people (me included) don’t understand and can’t even comprehend.Some of the stuff we discuss includes:+ What death diving actually is. And why it’s growing worldwide+ The mental process before stepping off a 40m cliff+ How he assesses risk before taking each jump.+ Why he doesn’t read comments and how he handles criticism+ The injuries he’s faced (including temporary blindness and concussions) And much more.This is one of those episodes where you will hopefully get a greater understanding about something you may not known much about.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Smith is one of the most influential figures in New Zealand television.You may not know the name, but you most definitely know some of his shows: The Casketeers, The Lion Man, One Lane Bridge, and the Jeremy Wells show Eating Media Lunch. Content that’s not just popular, but culturally iconic.I’ve known Phil socially for a number of years now, and I just thought he was a cool guy who’d had a solid behind-the-scenes career in TV. What I didn’t realise is just how wild his story actually is:Like working in Africa as a journalist and being caught in gunfire.Getting arrested and locked up in Africa for a week, then pretty much dumped at the border with nowhere to go.Living with THE Jane Goodall for a month and getting life advice from her over glasses of scotch.We also get into how he went from all of that to working with Sir Paul Holmes at his peak, building and selling a company in his early 30s and creating some of New Zealand’s most successful TV shows.This episode goes everywhere. It’s part war story, part business lesson, part creative deep dive… and somehow still just feels like a chat with a really intriguing Kiwi.***Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/domThe issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pdsPast performance does not guarantee future returns.And just a reminder — everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bariz Shah is a husband and father, an engineer and a community leader. He was named 2021 Muslim New Zealander of the Year and he is also the author of a great book called Beyond Hope.But before all of this, he was a convicted criminal who was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months in jail.This podcast is a small part of his story. The story of a kid who came to New Zealand as a refugee, went completely off the rails as a teenager - eventually ending up in prison at 18 - and has managed to do a full 180 and completely turn his life around. Bariz opens up about growing up between Afghanistan, Pakistan and New Zealand, dealing with abuse and identity struggles, and how that led him down an incredibly negative path.We talk about his self-destructive spiral which ended up with time in prison. And the moment he decided he was never going back.We also get into how he rebuilt his life from scratch… studying engineering, finding his faith, and eventually launching a project to honour the victims of the Christchurch Mosque attacks.There’s a lot in this one: redemption, forgiveness, discipline, faith… and some pretty confronting stories along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 34 years old, Samoana Matagi from Utah (“Sam”) lost both of his hands in a freak electrical accident with 14,000 volts. Now you can find him online with the nick-name he gave himself: The No Handed Bandit.Sam had to relearn literally everything in a world that is designed for people with hands: eating, texting, driving, dressing, hygiene. He compares it to being a baby again…but remembering the frustration” We cover a lot of ground in this episode: + What happened on the day of the accident.+ The mental battle that followed.+ What it’s like learning to do absolutely everything again from scratch.+ And how he’s turned that experience into helping thousands of people around the world.There’s a lot of humour in this one too - that’s the magic of Sam. He’s got this ability to make you laugh while also dropping some profound truth-bombs about resilience and getting on with it when life throws something massive your way.If you ever find yourself thinking “why me?” (and let’s be honest- haven’t we all had those self-pity moments?) this episode might be just the kick in the arse you need.***** Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/domThe issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pdsPast performance does not guarantee future returns.And just a reminder — everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode with Jason Paris first came out at the end of 2024. I thought I’d release it in case you are new or new-ish to the podcast and missed it the first time round. Also, because New Zealand’s latest landmark- the seriously impressive One NZ stadium has just opened in Christchurch. And Jason was deeply involved in signing off on this 10-year multimillion dollar sponsorshipThis is a rare peak into the man behind the title.From growing up in Invercargill with a solo mum on the benefit with no relationship with his father, to leading major brands like Spark, TVNZ and now One NZ, we talk about:+ How Jason rose to CEO without a university degree+ Why he gives out his personal email to customers+ Lessons from mistakes –from million-dollar errors to public criticism+ The importance of family, presence, and being a great dad+ The story behind the One NZ stadium sponsorship in Christchurch, and much much more!This episode is a reminder that behind every CEO is a regular human being, shaped by their past, driven by their values, and still figuring things out.Jason’s story is proof that where you start doesn’t determine where you can go.If you’re hearing this for the first time, I have no doubt you’ll love it.If you are relistening to it, I hope you’ll pick up on some stuff you missed the first-time round Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.