Attended St Mary's Convent School, Carterton, before going to Kuranui College, Greytown in the Wairapapa. He then enlisted with the Regular Force Cadet School at Waiouru, where he trained at the School of Artillery, Waiouru Gunnery and driver operator, and qualified as an All Arms Instructor. In 1969 he was posted to 161 Battery Dpot, 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery in Papakura. In 1970 he was sent to South Vietnam for a 12 month tour of duty. He was discharged from the New Zealand Army in June 1971, after four and a half years service.

From 1971 to 1978, Michael lived in Auckland and was employed in various jobs; a Driver, Funeral Director, Bus Operator. In 1976, he joined the Ministry of Transport as a Traffic Officer, posted to Takapuna. In 1986 he was posted to Waiouru as sole charge officer, and in 1992 Ministry of Transport (Traffic Safety Service) was amalgamated with the New Zealand Police and he became a Senior Constable and was posted to Papamoa and Te Puke. In 1995 he was posted to a two man station in Ngatea. In 2001 he joined the Waikato Highway Patrol before retiring in 2014 after 38 years of service. AWMM