Tamati Patuwai

New Zealand native actor Tamati Patuwai has been performing in lead roles on Screen and Stage since the mid 90's. Key highlights for Patuwai have been the NZ TV and Film Best Actor award for his stunning performance in the TV Movie and true story 'Staunch' (2002) to drawing record breaking audiences to the explosive Theatrical phenomena 'Maui', where Patuwai played Maui himself. Tamati Patuwai was born on December 20th, 1973 in Auckland, New Zealand; his mother, Jannette Patuwai (nee Powell), was a community worker for many years, and his father, Te Nohotu Noel Patuwai, was a skilled labourer. He is of Maori and Celtic descent. More specifically his tribal affiliations are: Ngati Whatua Tuturu, Te Taou, Ngati HIne, Irish, Welsh and English. Patuwai was born and bred in an East Auckland suburb called Glen Innes. His first stage experience was in a high school production 'West Side Story' directed by the nationally acclaimed Director and Theatre dramaturg June Renwick. He went on to join a youth theatre group, called The Maidment Theatre group, led by Samantha Scott. Having worked on stage with the enigmatic stage director Christian Penny in several shows, coupled with support roles in Jane Campion's The Piano (1991), as a teenager Tamati landed a substantial opportunity as a regular guest actor on the emerging award winning drama series 'Shortland Street' where he played Henry Tamariki, a rising sports star. Following these positive career building experiences, Patuwai decided to train at the prestigious NZ Drama School, and graduated with a Bachelor in Performing Arts. Straight after graduation, Tamati was hand picked by leading Director and Producer Jim Moriarty to join a troupe of performers and technicians through Theatre in Education programmes throughout New Schools and prisons. Tamati often credits many of his pivotal learning experiences with this work and continues to develop works that utilise performance and arts in general as a tool for positive change in communities. Tamati has enjoyed many roles on screen and stage for almost 25 years now, and continues to cultivate his love for the craft and culture of performance and storytelling.