Maaka Pohatu

Maaka Pohatu is a New Zealand actor and musician. Pohatu 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
BornDunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand
GenresMāori 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, Maaka 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 has had featured roles in the films Two Little Boys (2012) and Poi E (2016).[5]

Early life

Pohatu was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and is of Māori (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) descent. Maaka 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

Theatre

Pohatu 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, Maaka performed in, Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds, at the Off-Broadway theatre, SoHo Playhouse.

Film and television

Pohatu 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] Maaka, 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. Pohatu 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]

Music

Pohatu is a member of the Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside Francis Kora, Matariki Whatarau and James Tito.[13]

Personal life

Pohatu has been given the nickname "Human Jukebox" because of his extensive musical knowledge.[14]

Discography
  • Happy Hour (2014)
  • That's Us! (2017)

References
  1. "Is the Modern Maori Quartet New Zealand's next big thing?". nzherald.co.nz. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  2. "That's Us! Modern Māori Quartet". The Big Idea. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  3. "Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds". witnessperformance.com. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. "My Party Song". Māori Television. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  5. "Poi E: The Story of Our Song". nzfilm.nz.co. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  6. "Toi Whakaari Graduates". Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  7. "The Maori Troilus & Cressida". Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  8. "Trolius and Cresida-Review". The Guardian. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  9. "Maaka Pohatu". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  10. "Poi E star Maaka Pohatu reveals his struggle with darkness". nzherald.co.nz. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  11. Bess Manson (2 September 2014). "Temuera Morrison's Happy Hour". stuff.co.nz.
  12. "Wellington Paranormal: Why it continues to be a spookily great Kiwi comedy". Stuff. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  13. "5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet". nzherald.co.nz. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  14. "5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet". nzherald.co.nz. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
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