With a career spanning thirty years, Burke was noted for his documentary work and television productions that addressed social issues and everyday life.

[3] He attended Hamilton Boys' High School and Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in music.

[3] He raised his own finance in the company to fund his first short film, Gordon Bennett, which was released in 1989.

[9] During the 1990s, Burke expanded further with Top Shelf Productions, producing shows and documentaries such as Target, An Immigrant Nation[10] and Flatmates.

[18] In the last few years of his life, Burke worked as an executive producer at the Avalon studios in Lower Hutt.