World champion boxer Mea Motu is a powerful force in the ring, but when it came to signing up for the reality series Celebrity Treasure Islandshe wasn’t interested.
“I said no at first because if you don’t box, you don’t live,” she laughs. “Anything to do with boxing, I’m like, ‘Let’s do it!’ Anything else that’s not boxing I don’t want to do.
“That was my attitude until my trainer/manager Isaac Peach told me I needed to get out of my comfort zone and do something different – to give it a go.”
Mea, who is of Te Rarawa descent, took his advice and said she would, but only if he promised her a fight when she stopped filming.
“I’m so glad I took it because, man, what an amazing opportunity,” she smiles.
Last year, at the age of 33, Mea made history as the newly crowned IBO World Super Bantamweight Champion, after defeating Canada’s Tania Walters in Fight for Life in April.
When she walked in Celebrity Treasure Island in March of this year, she knew her greatest strength would be as a mentor.
“I’m really good at motivating people,” she says. “When they’re at their worst and feeling down, I’m really good at pulling it out of them.
“That’s my biggest strength, because I’ve trained in the corner and when that fighter feels like crap, I have to quickly turn it around and change it, and make them feel really good. And that’s what makes them win fights. “
She also gets up at 5 am every morning, which can be annoying to her TV teammates.
“I’m also not very good at anything academic, like comprehension and reading,” she admits. “I’m a little slow with it, but if you put me on the spot, I can get it sometimes, but it’s definitely not my strength.”
Mea has been very open about her experience of domestic violence with her ex-husband.
“I knew it was wrong and I had to find a way out,” she reflects. “Sometimes I had to be my own hospital.”
Mea says there were times when she just wanted to give up on life.
“Sometimes I wished I was dead,” she says. “When I was in that life of domestic violence, I didn’t value myself and I hated who I was. I was in a dark place, so I know what it’s like to be in a really bad situation.”
Today, Mea says she has forgiven her ex-husband, something that has set her free.
“It took me years to forgive him. It wasn’t until last year that I learned how,” she explains. “I realized that I just dug a hole and let this man control who I am, even though he’s not with me. He’s locked up.
“I let this man rule my life, then I let it go and now I’m free. I enjoy life and embrace it with my children. I give everything a try.”
Mea has five children, David, 16, Laylani, 15, Tūtanekai, 10, Shae, four, and Daniele, three.
“My children are my life and my saviour,” says Mea.
“My daughter saved my life when she jumped in front of the knife my husband was about to stab me with. The strength and courage my daughter, then only eight years old, showed me changed everything.
“It changed my whole way of life and the strength she showed me meant I could do anything.”
The charity Mea supports while she is inside Celebrity Treasure Island is I Am Hope, promoting positive change around mental health, offering hope and a voice to young people.
“I’m an ambassador for I Am Hope and I’m very passionate about it. They take care of your mental health and your well-being,” she says. “It’s the best thing to take care of our children, because our children are our next generation that we fight for.
“If we don’t allow children to have a voice and teach them the coping mechanisms, then we lose that generation.”
Since finding a way to leave her husband, Mea says she has become a stronger person.
“That time in my life made me a stronger, independent woman and I love who I am,” she enthuses. “Life is too short to sit there and beat yourself up. Just enjoy every moment.
“We think we have plenty of time, but we don’t. Time is very short, so embrace every moment.”
Watch Celebrity Treasure Island Mondays at 7.30pm on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
Help is available here
Shine – 0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline.
Are you OK – 0800 456 450 Domestic Violence Helpline.
Women’s Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) for women living with violence or fear in their relationship or family.
Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 for migrant or refugee women living with domestic violence.
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