Mary is an award winning journalist, broadcaster, executive media trainer, communications strategist and media consultant. She is the founder of Socius Media – a media training and media consultancy company.
After completing the AUT Journalism course in 1987 Mary worked as a journalist, a radio nine to noon and breakfast host and newsreader all over New Zealand.
In 1991, Mary received a scholarship to live and work in Japan. For three years she was Radio New Zealand’s Tokyo foreign correspondent. On her return to New Zealand, Mary hosted the BBC World Service Business programme and worked as a radio talkback host. She was invited to work on a series of television documentaries for the production house Communicado which eventually led to her hosting the NBR Business Programme.
At the beginning of 1997, Mary won the coveted role of host of TV One’s Good Morning show. Alongside this she presented the popular “Money Doctor” programme. Mary returned to Newstalk ZB in 2003 as Leighton Smith’s fill in, as well as continuing to host the Good Morning show until early 2004 when the show relocated to Wellington. She elected to stay in Auckland with her then very young family.
Mary has been a Woman’s Weekly and Sunday Star columnist and in 2007 wrote a little book called “101 Quick Tips for Surviving your Kids”. Also in 2007 Mary appeared on TV’s “Intrepid Journeys” where she visited Iran. In 2009 she attended and reported on the Inauguration of Barack Obama in Washington DC. At the beginning of 2023 Mary was invited to be part of the Celebrity Treasure Island cast, which she did, with some trepidation! Later that same year Mary worked as media trainer and media consultant to the then Leader of the Opposition, Christopher Luxon who successfully won the 2023 general election and is now Prime Minister.
Mary lives in Auckland with her husband Jim Mora and their three university student children; Rebecca and twins Jack and Elizabeth. She holds a BA (Victoria University), a Post Graduate Diploma in Communications (AUT) and APR (Accreditation in Public Relations). Mary is the Patron of the NZ Multiple Birth club, a member of Global Women NZ and Co-chair of the PRINZ Northern Committee.
Mary also enjoys endurance exercise such as long bike rides and walks, adventure racing, and generally being out there for as long as she can. She has successfully completed five marathons, endless half marathons, two Coast to Coasts, the notorious K2 cycle race and around Lake Taupo 160km ride, four times.