Peter David Broughton , generally known as Rawiri Paratene, is a New Zealand stage and screen actor, director and writer. He is known for his acting roles in ''

Whale Rider ''Whale Rider'' is a 2002 New Zealand Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. Based on the 1987 novel ''The Whale Rider'' by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve- ...

'' (2002) and '' The Insatiable Moon'' (2010).

Biography

Paratene was born at Motukaraka, near Kohukohu, Hokianga, New Zealand, and is of

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland region of New Zealand and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2018 New Zealand census, the estimated population of Ngāpuhi is 165, ...

descent. He grew up in the

south Auckland South Auckland is an imprecisely defined urban area of Auckland, New Zealand, with a young population, a relatively large Polynesian and Māori demographic, and lower incomes than other parts of Auckland. The name ''South Auckland'', though not ...

suburb of Otara, and attended Hillary College as David Broughton, the English form of his name. Paratene's parents were Boyd Alex Broughton and Patricia Charlotte Hancy. Paratene initially struggled with reading and writing at school, but went on to be the first

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

graduate of the

New Zealand Drama School New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting). As a young student in the 1970s, Paratene was a member of Ngā Tamatoa, an activist organisation which fought for

Māori rights Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various islan ...

language Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...

and

culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...

. Paratene was president of the Wellington chapter, and was one of those who presented the 1972 Te reo Māori petition to parliament. Today, working in the arts, Paratene aspires to have more Māori stories on film.

Career

Theatre

Paratene was selected as a Shakespeare's Globe International Actor's Fellow in 2007. Paratene is an actor, director and writer and appeared as Friar Lawrence in the 2009 London Globe Theatre production of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

''. The New Zealand Festival commissioned Paratene and Murray Lynch to write a play called ''Blue Smoke'' that premiered in 2000. It is set in the 1950s and is a musical featuring music from the era. The title of the play is also the title of a famous song ''Blue Smoke,'' which was the first record wholly produced in New Zealand and became a hit in the United States''.'' In 2014, Paratene joined the cast of the London Globe Theatre's two-year world tour of ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', visiting 205 countries. He was the only non-British based actor in the cast. Paratene's swan song production is ''Peter Paka Paratene'' directed by Tainui Tukiwaho, presented in 2021 at Te Pou Theatre in Auckland and the

Kia Mau Festival The Kia Mau Festival, previously called Ahi Kaa Festival, is a biennial performing arts festival in Wellington, New Zealand. In te reo Māori, kia mau is "a call to stay - an invitation to join us". The festival covers Māori, Pasifika and in ...

Film

* '' Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale'' (1986) – Rangi * '' Rapa-Nui'' (1994) – Priest * '' What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?'' (1999) – Mulla Rota * ''

'' (2002) – Koro * ''

The Legend of Johnny Lingo ''The Legend of Johnny Lingo'' is a 2003 film set in Polynesia and directed by Steven Ramirez. It is an extension of the 1969 short film '' Johnny Lingo'' that is based on a story by Patricia McGerr. Plot An orphan boy named Tama is adopted by ...

'' (2003) – Malio Chief * ''

Man-Thing The Man-Thing (Dr. Theodore "Ted" Sallis) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in ''S ...

'' (2005) – Peter Horn * '' The Insatiable Moon'' (2010) – Arthur

Television

* '' Play School'' * '' Joe and Koro'' * '' Xena: Warrior Princess'' – Tazere (Season 6, Episode 5: Legacy) * ''

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 ...

'' – Joe Hudson * '' ''Golden Boy'' - Bertie (Seasons 1 & 2)

Personal life and politics

On 18 September 2008, the

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation ...

announced that Paratene was standing as their candidate for in the . He is the father of

Marama Davidson Marama Mere-Ana Davidson (née Paratene; born 1973) is a New Zealand politician who entered the New Zealand Parliament in 2015 as a representative of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, of which she is the female co-leader. In October 20 ...

, who became the Green Party co-leader on 8 April 2018. She became an MP in 2015 when

Russel Norman Russel William Norman (born 2 June 1967) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He was a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party. Norman resigned as an MP in October 2015 to work as Executive Director of Greenpeace Aote ...

resigned. She had previously stood for the Green Party in the

2013 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti on 29 June 2013. The seat was vacated by the death of incumbent member of parliament Parekura Horomia two months earlier, who had represented the electorate for the Labour ...

and the 2014 general election.

Honours and awards

* 2021 –

Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

, for services to Māori, film and theatre, in the

2022 New Year Honours The 2022 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations ...

* 2012 –

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rend ...

in the

2013 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2013 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Hon ...

for services to film, television and theatre * 2011 – Aotearoa Film & Television Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film – The Insatiable Moon (Arthur) * 1996 – NZ Film & Television Award for Best Actor – Dead Cert (Hare) * 1983 – Winner of the

Robert Burns Fellowship The Robert Burns Fellowship is a New Zealand literary residency. Established in 1958 to coincide with bicentennial celebrations of the birth of Robert Burns, it is often claimed to be New Zealand's premier literary residency. The list of past ...

* 1980 – Winner Mobil Radio Award for 'Proper Channels' Radio Play (Production) * 1980 – Winner Mobil Radio Award for 'Proper Channels' Radio Play (Writing) * 1976 – Winner of the Māori Writers' Award

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paratene, Rawiri New Zealand screenwriters Male screenwriters New Zealand male television actors New Zealand male Māori actors New Zealand male soap opera actors Māori activists People from the Hokianga Toi Whakaari alumni Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politicians New Zealand actor-politicians Ngāpuhi people Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Living people Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election Year of birth missing (living people) 20th-century New Zealand male actors 21st-century New Zealand male actors 21st-century New Zealand dramatists and playwrights 21st-century New Zealand male writers New Zealand male dramatists and playwrights 21st-century screenwriters