Scotty is well-known presenter of Māori current affairs programmes Te Karere and Marae Investigates. He holds a Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Education and Masters degree (Education) from the University of Waikato, is currently working towards his PhD at Massey University and was recently appointed as Associate Professor Massey University.

Scotty has been an Adjunct Professor and the Director of Māori Student and Community Engagement at Auckland's Unitec Institute of Technology, where he continues to promote te reo Māori through awareness, administration and specialised courses. He is also the author of the bestselling The Raupo Phrasebook of Modern Māori and Māori Made Easy.

Born and raised in Rotorua, he now lives in Auckland with his wife Stacey Morrison and their children, Hawaiki, Kurawaka and Maiana. Scotty is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga and has a strong national media profile.