Maaka Pohatu is a New Zealand actor and musician. He is also a founding member of Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet.[1] He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album That's Us! (2017).[2]
Maaka Pohatu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Genres | Māori Showband, comedy, drama, theatre |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Pohatu co-stars on the New Zealand mockumentary comedy horror television series Wellington Paranormal, part of the What We Do in the Shadows franchise. In 2018, Pohatu, along with other members of Modern Māori Quartet, began touring their cabaret show Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.[3] Pohatu co-hosted Māori Television's My Party Song as part of the Modern Māori Quartet.[4] He had featured roles in the films Two Little Boys (2012) and Poi E (2016).[5]
Early life
editPohatu was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and is of Māori (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) descent. He is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Te Kura Toi Whakaari ō Aotearoa), earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2005.[6]
Career
editTheatre
editPohatu performed as Ajax in the te reo Māori version of Troilus and Cressida at the Globe Theatre in London, alongside fellow Toi Whakaari graduates and Modern Māori Quartet bandmates, James Tito (Diomedes) and Matu Ngaropo (Achilles).[7][8] In January 2020, Pohatu performed in Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds at the Off-Broadway theatre, SoHo Playhouse.
Film and television
editPohatu made his movie debut as Gav, flatmate to Bret McKenzie's character, in Two Little Boys (2012).[9] He portrayed Dalvanius Prime, the Māori musical legend behind the 1984 te reo Māori hit "Poi E", in the film Poi E (2016).[10] Pohatu, and the other members of the Modern Māori Quartet, served as the in-house band on Māori television’s variety show, Happy Hour (2014).[11] He also acted in some of the show's comedy sketches. He plays the role of Sergeant Ruawai Maaka on Wellington Paranormal, the New Zealand television spin-off of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows.[12] In 2024 he appeared in The Rule of Jenny Pen.[13]
Music
editPohatu is a member of the Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside Francis Kora, Matariki Whatarau and James Tito.[14]
Personal life
editPohatu has been given the nickname "Human Jukebox" because of his extensive musical knowledge.[14]
Discography
edit- Happy Hour (2014)
- That's Us! (2017)
References
edit- ^ "Is the Modern Maori Quartet New Zealand's next big thing?". The New Zealand Herald. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "That's Us! Modern Māori Quartet". The Big Idea. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds". witnessperformance.com. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "My Party Song". Māori Television. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Poi E: The Story of Our Song". nzfilm.nz.co. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Toi Whakaari Graduates". Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "The Maori Troilus & Cressida". Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Trolius and Cresida-Review". The Guardian. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Maaka Pohatu". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Poi E star Maaka Pohatu reveals his struggle with darkness". The New Zealand Herald. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ Bess Manson (2 September 2014). "Temuera Morrison's Happy Hour". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "Wellington Paranormal: Why it continues to be a spookily great Kiwi comedy". Stuff. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "The Rule of Jenny Pen". IMBd. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b "5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet". The New Zealand Herald. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.