Catching up with the Weekly just hours before she jumped on what seems like her 100th flight of the year, it’s somewhat surprising to hear the word “grounded” come out of Courtney Tairi’s mouth.
Sky Sport presenter Courtney, 35, is in the middle of what she describes as the best – and busiest! – year of her life. There’s the non-stop travel, her incredible work assignments – she’s ticked off one of her biggest goals of her career, covering her first Olympic Games in Paris – and her fabulous social life.
“I might have cooked in my kitchen once this entire year,” she laughs. “But it’s been an amazing few months. I’m exhausted but I’m happy. You can definitely be both!”
But it’s been something else entirely that has seen her tackle 2024 with a passion she’s never felt before. She’s reconnecting with her whakapapa and Māori family after spending the majority of her life in Australia.
Former Silver Fern Courtney, the daughter of her Māori father and Pākehā mum, is of Tainui descent. Born across the ditch, and despite lots of trips back and forth throughout her life, she never learned much te reo or connected with her heritage.
But in the past few years, the talented broadcaster has decided to go from almost zero to 100. She enrolled in kura (school) to learn as much about her language and culture as she can.
“Why not just jump into full immersion?!” she exclaims. “It’s been the most hectic thing to do. It took me more than 30 years to realise that, even though I grew up in Australia, I still have the right to be Māori and learn about my heritage.
“My parents tried as hard as they could. However, growing up I was the only brown kid in the class and I didn’t want to be different. I had this little curly afro, my skin was different and I just didn’t want to know.
“But not connecting with this part of myself was, actually, a huge part of me that was missing. I just didn’t know it for a long time.
“It’s been life-changing and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made,” she enthuses. “As hard and tough as it’s been to fit everything in, I’ve never felt more grounded and connected to New Zealand, and it’s such a magical thing.”
Courtney’s been balancing her full-time full immersion kura with her role at Sky Sport, where she’s been covering league, netball and combat sports.
“I still have a little room for Formula 1, if there’s a Grand Prix that needs going to!” she laughs.
And while it’s the stuff of her dreams, Courtney admits she’s been flirting around the edges of burnout for a few months.
“I’ve never been busier, it’s true,” she says. “I’ve had to try and learn how to say no this year, but also recognising that it’s just one of those special times in life where everything seems to be happening at once. I’m just kind of acknowledging that this pace and workload isn’t normal – but it’s also not forever. It’s been a big learning year about looking after myself, but also pushing the limits, and there has been some chill time post-Olympics, that’s for sure!”
While there’s been a lot of burning the candle at both ends, Courtney is somehow full of energy. She’s excited about having fulfilled her childhood dream of covering an Olympics.
“As netball isn’t an Olympic sport, I had no idea how I was going to do it. But look, I’ve found a way!” Courtney laughs. “But ever since I transitioned into broadcasting after retiring, this has been the ultimate goal. My absolute highlight was chatting to the athletes as they fulfilled their own dreams. It was such a privilege.”
But before she arrived in Paris, Courtney practiced what she preached. She treated herself to a few solo days in Italy, and the sun and sand helped her recharge.
“It was just reading, resting, drinking cocktails and eating pasta,” she says. “I feel like my mental health definitely needed the break, because now the Olympics are over, I’ve headed straight back into kura. I couldn’t be happier!”
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