David Wikaira-Paul (born 30 January 1985) played Tama Hudson on New Zealand television series

Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital, first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992. It is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously ...

Biography

David joined the cast of Shortland Street in 2001 to play fresh-faced 14-year-old Tama Hudson, a high school student. David himself had already left school and completed a year of tertiary education at Northland Polytechnic. He graduated from the Polytechnic in 2000 with a Certificate in Applied Arts, Music and Drama, having played the lead role in their production of Te Ngaru Nui. Other theatre credits include Late Nights with Tuakau College, and Buggy Wonderland and The Miraculous Fairy Tale with the Kaleidescope Performing Arts Company. Moving to

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, David signed with an acting agency and was soon cast in Shortland Street. Over the years his performance as Tama gained him great popularity throughout New Zealand, especially with younger viewers. Like many of the cast, David is also very musically talented. His hip hop group Medical Clan won the prestigious South Side Gig in both 2000 and 2003, and he has written several songs for on-screen alter ego Tama to perform on Shortland Street. Medical Clan recently performed as part of TV2's 24-hour live music show, National Anthem. David has also appeared in the Maori mystery television series Mataku, which was made by Shortland Street's parent company,

South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street'' ...

. David was a contestant on

Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series) ''Dancing with the Stars'' is a New Zealand television dance contest based on the British series '' Strictly Come Dancing''. The show introduces New Zealand celebrities paired with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against e ...

in 2006. He now has three kids and a wife Sam (wife), Ricco(son), Andre(son), Tamara(daughter)

External links

* New Zealand male television actors 1985 births Living people New Zealand male soap opera actors 21st-century New Zealand male actors {{NewZealand-tv-actor-stub