Wi Kuki Kaa (16 December 1938 – 19 February 2006) 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 country ...

actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Māori iwi of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.

Family

Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New Zealand's

East Cape East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is located at the northern end of the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It can also refer to the broader Gisborne cape. East Cape was originally named "Ca ...

. His father was the Reverend Tipi Whenua Kaa, from Rangitukia, who was vicar of the Waiapu parish and his mother Hohipene Kaa (formerly Whaanga) was from Wairoa. He was one of 12 children: his siblings include the writer and te reo advocate Keri Kaa,

Hone Kaa Archdeacon Hone Kaa (9 April 1941 – 29 March 2012) was an Auckland-based Anglican church leader, child welfare advocate and social-justice campaigner. He was a Māori of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Born to Rev. Tipi (whenua) a ...

, an Anglican church leader, child welfare advocate, and Arapera Blank, a writer and poet.

Career

Kaa featured in many films, including the lead role of 'Iwi' in '' Ngati'' (1987), written by

Tama Poata Tama may mean: Languages * Tama language, the language of the Sudanese Tama people * Tama languages, a language family of northern Papua New Guinea Music * Tama Drums, a Japanese brand manufactured by Hoshino Gakki * Tama (percussion), a type o ...

and directed by

Barry Barclay Barry Ronald Barclay, MNZM (12 May 1944 – 19 February 2008) was a New Zealand filmmaker and writer of Māori (Ngāti Apa) and Pākehā (European) descent. Background Barclay was born in Masterton and raised on farms in the Wairarapa. He was e ...

. Kaa won the "Best Film Performance, Male" at the 1988 New Zealand Film and TV Awards for this role, and in 1987 alongside Barclay, Poata and producer John O'Shea attended a screening at

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

in the Critics Week programme. He also played a lead role in the film '' Utu'' (1983) directed by

Geoff Murphy Geoffrey Peter Murphy (12 October 1938 – 3 December 2018) was a New Zealand filmmaker, producer, director, and screenwriter best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the second half of the 1970s. His ...

. Kaa featured in the music video ''Little Things'' by Wellington roots dub band Trinity Roots. In 2006, Kaa died in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

aged 67.

Filmography

Film

*'' Inn of the Damned'' (1975) - Tom *'' Utu'' (1983) - Wiremu *'' The Bounty'' (1984) - King Tynah *'' Kingpin'' (1985) - Mr Nathan *'' Ngati'' (1987) - Iwi *'' Linda's Body'' (1990, Short) - Hemi *'' Te Rau'' (1991) - Rewi Marangai *'' Turangawaewae'' (2002) - Tiare (Koro) *'' River Queen'' (2005) - Old Rangi

Television

*''

Homicide Homicide occurs when a person kills another person. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no inten ...

'' (1971) - Rollo *''

Spyforce ''Spyforce'' is an Australian television series that aired from 1971 to 1973 on Nine Network. The series was based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced ...

'' (1973) - Matthas / Hiromoto / Nikolu Yaratomo / Colonel Mayusaki / Sergeant Shikoya *'' Silent Number'' (1974) - Tony *'' Worzel Gummidge Down Under'' (1986–1987) - Travelling Scarecrow Maker *'' The Diamond of Jeru'' (2001, TV Movie) - Inghai *'' The Strip'' (2002) - Bible Bill *'' Der Liebe entgegen'' (2002, TV Movie) - Henry Tufare

References

External links

* New Zealand male stage actors New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male television actors 1938 births 2006 deaths New Zealand male Māori actors Ngāti Porou people Ngāti Kahungunu people {{Māori-bio-stub