Tauranga's Sam's gig as MTV presenter

Eva Longoria is a small-but-spicy "pocket rocket", Shakira is "still quite sexy" and Miley Cyrus is anything but her trademark denim-clad Hannah Montana persona when she's working the red carpet.
So says Sam Kelway, the Tauranga born and bred teacher who got to interview the stars while covering one of the biggest music events in the world for MTV this month.
The 26-year-old has landed a three-month gig as an MTV presenter after winning the channel's six-part reality series Pick Me MTV.
One of his first assignments was to join well-known MTV VJ Jay Reeve - another Tauranga expat - on the red carpet at the European Music Awards.
The glitzy event attracted some of pop's biggest acts, namely Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna, as well as a host of film and TV stars.
Other stars Sam got up close and personal with were English rapper Dizzee Rascal, Finnish group The Dudesons and one of his favourite bands, Kings of Leon.
The former Tauranga Boys' College pupil described Longoria as "amazing" and "really lovely" - although he was surprised at how petite she star was in person.
"She was quite short. I'd call her a pocket rocket. Very spicy, in a small package."
He was also dazzled by 17-year-old Miley Cyrus.
"She had a bit of sparkle in her eye and I was really amazed at how she composed herself on the red carpet.
"It really was surreal seeing all these celebrities in the flesh that I'd only seen [on TV]. But I didn't really have time to stand around and think about it at the time."
"I'd prepared 10 questions for each of the artists but it ended up being quite easy to go from question to question. It was all quite a blur so I can't remember exactly what I said, but I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything too horrific and I got them smiling so I know it can't have been that bad."
He arrived back in New Zealand last Friday after his whirlwind trip and will now present a weekly segment on MTV for the next three months while still teaching at Auckland's Kowhai Intermediate School.
Sam entered Pick Me MTV as he always wanted to be a television presenter and believes he's got what it takes to be the man on the box. He's been inspired from a young age by his mentor and uncle, One News weatherman Jim Hickey.
But he attributes his misspent youth role-playing as a presenter giving speeches and performing poems for his mum as the real reason for his success.
"I have an amazing family that was always there for me as a youngster and even now. So I am incredibly fortunate," he said.
Sam's message to others looking for a big break is simply to "dream".