Ernie Leonard (1931 – 15, July 1994) was a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

television presenter, wrestling commentator, and actor. He was well known to wrestling fans.

Background

Leonard was born in Marton, New Zealand in 1931. The son of an Anglican minister, he was of

Ngāti Rangiwewehi Ngāti Rangiwewehi is an iwi of the Te Arawa confederation of tribes. A Ngāti Rangiwewehi kapa haka group was founded in 1968 and has published their own songs and participated in various music festivals such as Te Matatini. The tribe is a two- ...

and Rangitane descent. Along with

Steve Rickard Sydney Mervin "Merv" Batt (3 September 1929 – 5 April 2015), best known by his ring name Steve Rickard, was a New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. As a wrestler, he traveled throughout the world during the 1960s and 1970s, ...

, he co-hosted and commented for the wrestling show, '' On the Mat''. During his career, he worked with people such as producer

Ngaire Fuata Ngaire Fuata is a New Zealand Television producer for TVNZ and a former Pop singer. She is of Rotuman and Dutch descent. Personal life Born in England, Fuata later migrated to New Zealand with her parents at a young age. She grew up in Whakat ...

. In 1986, he recruited

Whai Ngata Tanara Whairiri Kitawhiti "Whai" Ngata (c. 1942 – 3 April 2016) was a Māori broadcaster, journalist, and lexicographer. Ngata worked for Radio New Zealand from 1975 to 1983, before moving to Television New Zealand. He led the Māori de ...

to start up the Māori department on Television New Zealand.

Acting roles

In 1966 Leonard appeared in the film ''

Don't Let It Get You ''Don't Let It Get You'' is a film made in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia in 1966. It is notable for the period it was made in as well as the popular musical acts that featured in it. Sir Howard Morrison, Eddie Low, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and He ...

'', which was directed by John O'Shea. At the time, Leonard was employed as the public relations officer in Rotorua. Leonard played the part of Charlie Rata, a core character in the ground-breaking TV series ''

Pukemanu ''Pukemanu'' was a New Zealand television series that ran from 1971 to 1972. Background The series, set in a fictional location, was considered to break ground in the way it approached the subject and examined the town that it was set in. It was ...

'', which ran from 1971 to 1972.

Television

Leonard secured the position of head of the Maori Programmes Department for TVNZ during the mid-1980s. He was first person to hold that position.

Death

Leonard died at age 62 on 15 July 1994 following a short battle with cancer.NZ On Screen
Ernie Leonard, Biography
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Filmography

Actor

Crew

References

1931 births 1994 deaths New Zealand television presenters People from Marton, New Zealand Deaths from cancer in New Zealand {{NewZealand-tv-bio-stub