Raised in Christchurch, Mike took a high school journalism course run by the Department of Māori Affairs. In 1984 he won a Radio New Zealand cadetship and six months of journalism training. He was transferred to the sports office, and the longtime longtime rugby fan felt at ease with his subject matter, gaining valuable live experience. By age 24, he was running the sports department and was offered a job on TV One's Sports Night.

At the end of 2000, TV3 invited Mike to become back-up news presenter for John Campbell on the 6pm bulletin, eventually taking over with Hilary Barry when Campebll Life was launched. Mike has covered the Iraq elections, the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza strip, and the Christchurch and Japan earthquakes. At the 2017 New Zealand Television Awards, he was judged Best News and Current Affairs Presenter for his work on Newshub Live at 6pm.

In 2011, Mike wrote his first book Beyond the Front Line. Mike lives in West Auckland and has two children.