Profile
Ethnicity
Māori
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Height
189 cm
Age Range
38–48
Career Highlights
Matu is a New Zealand-Māori actor who works across film, television and theatre. His television credits include the lead of Mikaere in Māori Television soap opera Korero Mai, along with guest roles on comedy series Seven Periods With Mr. Gormsby and hospital drama Shortland Street. He appeared in the feature film Whina, portraying the celebrated New Zealand politician Apirana Ngata. Most recently, Matu was cast as the lead George Washington in the Australian production of Hamilton the Musical.
Awards.
| 2003 | Museum Hotel Scholarship - Acting | ||
| 1998 | National Globe Shakespeare Competition - Winner - Peter Vere Jones Award - Most Outstanding Actor | ||
Feature Film.
| 2020 | Whina | Sir Apirana Ngata (Guest) | Dir. Paula Whetu Jones & James Napier Robertson |
Short Film.
| 2003 | Contingency | Randolph | New Zealand Film School Productions Dir. Matt Trow |
| 2003 | Dead End | Angel | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. Mark Albison |
| 2002 | When Karma Comes | James | New Zealand Film School Productions |
Television.
| 2013 | Shortland Street | Wayne Harris (Guest) | South Pacific Pictures Dir. Various |
| 2012 | Korere Mai | Mikaere (Lead) | Cinco Cine Film Productions Ltd Dir. Robyn Grace |
| 2010 | Korero Mai | Mikaere (Lead) | Cinco Cine Film Productions Ltd Dir. Robyn Grace & Awanui Simich Pene |
| 2005 | Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby Series 2 | Constable Lemalu (Regular Recurrring) | Gibson Group Dir. Danny Mulheron |
| 2005 | Taonga | Maori Guide 1 | Greenstone Pictures Dir. Kathryn Akuhata Brown |
Presenter.
| 2011 | Pukoro Series 6 | Kura Productions Dir. Rangi Rangitukunoa | |
| 2011 | Rugby World Cup - Giant Ball | Self | Inside Out Productions |
| 2010 | Pukoro Series 5 | Self | Maori Television |
| 2010 | Rugby World Cup Giant Rugby Ball - Sydney | Self | Inside Out Productions |
| 2009 | Pukoro Series 3 | Self | Maori Television |
| 2009 | Rugby World Cup Giant Rugby Ball - Tokoyo | Self | Inside Out Productions |
| 2008 | Rugby World Cup Giant Rugby Ball - London | Self | Inside Out Productions |
| 2007 | Pukoro | Kura Productions Dir. Rob George | |
| 2007 | Rugby World Cup Maori Interactive | Presenter | Inside Out Productions |
| 2006 | Kiwifruit Series 2 | Cream TV | |
| 2005 | Tu Te Puehe Series 4 - 5 | MTS Dir. Eruera Morgan |
Theatre.
| 2024 | A Midsummer Nights Dream | Bottom | The Bell Shakespeare |
| 2023 | Something Rotten | Shakespeare | Court Theatre |
| 2022 | Hamilton | George Washington (Lead) | Dir. Thomas Kail |
| 2021 | Hamilton | George Washington (Lead) | Dir. Thomas Kail |
| 2020 | Little Black Bitch | Matua Tommy (Core) | Tuatara Collective Dir. Jason Te Mete |
| 2020 | Two Worlds - Soho Playhouse NYC | Koro | MMQ Dir. Self Directed |
| 2019 | Hamlet | Guildenstern/Emsemble | Pop Up Globe Dir. David Lawrence |
| 2019 | Measure for Measure | The Provost | Pop Up Globe Dir. Miles Gregory |
| 2019 | Two Worlds - Edinburgh Festival | Koro | MMQ Dir. Self Directed |
| 2019 | Two Worlds - Melbourne Arts Centre | Koro | MMQ Dir. Self Directed |
| 2019 | Two Worlds - Shanghai Comedy Festival | Koro | MMQ Dir. Self Directed |
| 2018 | Little Black Bitch | Director | Koanga Festival Dir. Jason Te Mete |
| 2018 | Macbeth - Auckland & Sydney | Macduff | Pop Up Globe Dir. Miles Gregory |
| 2018 | The Comedy of Errors - Auckland & Sydney | Macduff | Pop Up Globe Dir. Miles Gregory |
| 2016 | That's Us - Australia, China, Germany, Malaysia, UK | Singer | MMQ |
| 2013 | Nga Bro E wha - Auckland Season | Ensemble | Modern Maori Quartet Dir. Rachel House |
| 2013 | The Lion King - Australian Tour | Ensemble / Understudy Scar & Mufasa | The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Pty Ltd Dir. John Stefanuik |
| 2013 | Tu - Circa Theatre | Benedict | Tawata Dir. Hone Kouka |
| 2012 | Frankfurt Book Fair | Himself | Inside Out Productions |
| 2012 | The MaoriTroilus and Cressida - International Festival of the Arts/Globe Theatre London | Aikiri/Achilles | Ngakau Toa Dir. Rachel House |
| 2011 | Te Awarua - Matariki Arts Festival | Tawera | Smackbang Dir. Tainui Tukiwaho |
| 2010 | Te Awarua | Tutanekai/Jean | Smackbang Theatre Co Dir. Jarod Rawiri |
| 2010 | The Family Game Reloaded | Tu | The Applied Theatre Co Dir. Peter O'Connor |
| 2008 | Love Hurts | Various | Ensemble Impact Dir. K.C Kelly |
| 2008 | Thirsty Thursday | Various | Mess Up The Mess Dir. Sarah Jones |
| 2008 | Undressed | Various | Basement Theatre Dir. Glen Pickering |
| 2007 | Maui - One Man Against the Gods | Maui Mua | The Civic, Auckland Dir. Tanemahuta Gray |
| 2007 | Mum's Choir | Matt | Fortune Theatre, Dunedin Dir. Lisa Warrington |
| 2006 | Cymbeline | Posthumus/Leonatus/Cloten | Silo Theatre, Auckland Dir. Stuart Devenie |
| 2006 | Sweet Charity | Ensemble | Auckland Theatre Company Dir. Colin McColl |
| 2005 | 24 Hour Deadline Theatre | Son | ATC/Urbis Dir. Ben Crowder |
| 2005 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Hermia/Snug the Joiner/Moth | Circa Theatre, Wellington Dir. Peter Hambleton |
| 2005 | AK05 | MC | Stark Night Cabaret, Theatre Stampede Dir. Margaret Mary Hollins |
| 2004 | Romeo & Juliet | Mercutio | Downstage Theatre, Wellington Dir. Miranda Harcourt |
| 2004 | Whakaahuatia Mai | Wero | Taki Rua Productions Dir. Nancy Bruning |
| 2004 | Where 2 Roads Meet | Tahu, Awatea | Hapuke Productions Dir. Rangimoana Taylor |
| 2003 | Othello | Othello | Centrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North Dir. Alison Quigan |
| 2003 | Othello | Othello | Summer Shakespeare, Victoria University, Wellington Dir. Bert Van Dyke |
| 2003 | Te Kuraroa | Hirini Melbourne | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. Jude Gibson |
| 2003 | Troilus and Cressida | Paris/Ajax | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. Annie Ruth |
| 2002 | King Baabu | Shoki | International Festival of the Arts, Wellington Dir. Nina Nawalowalo |
| 2002 | Mother Courage & Her Children | The Chaplain | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. Miranda Harcourt |
| 2002 | The Rover | Diego | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. James Beaumont |
| 2001 | The Changeling | De Flores | New Zealand Drama School Productions Dir. Vanessa Byrnes |
| 2000 | Godspell | Judas | Hutt City Musical Theatre Dir. Geoff Turkington |
| 2000 | Loves Labour Lost | Nathaniel | VUW Summer Shakespeare Dir. Jonathan Hendry |
| 2000 | Shudder | Ruaumoko | Young and Hungry Dir. David O'Donnell |
| 2000 | The Burn Re: "Play" Theatre Co | Tu | Dir. Annie Millard |
| 1999 | 24/7 | Rob | Bright Productions |
| 1999 | Othello | Othello | UK Tour: Oxford University, Stratford on Avon, The Globe Theatre London Dir. Anne McMichael |
Voice.
| 2021 | The Lion King Reo Māori | Scar (Lead) | Disney Dir. Tweedie Waititi, Rachel House |
| 2012 | Pure of Body | Father Regnier | RNZ Drama Dir. Jason Te Kare |
| 2011 | Cry of the Taniwha | Novel Reader | Foundation for the Blind Dir. Christine Hewton |
| 2004 | Wild Cats | Marlowe | Cinco Cine Productions Dir. Staphanie Tawhi |
| 2003 | A Perfect Life | Radio New Zealand | |
| 2003 | Learning Media | Dir. Janice Marriot | |
| 2003 | TekoTeko narrative | Te Papa Museum, Wellington | |
| 2003 | The Childrens Series | Radio New Zealand | |
| 2003 | The Healing Arc | Radio New Zealand Theatre | |
| 2003 | The Night Before Christmas | Radio New Zealand Dir. Jane Waddell | |
| 2002 | Choices | Learning Media Dir. Janice Marriot | |
| 2002 | The Graduate | Radio New Zealand Theatre | |
| 2002 | The Woven Flax Kete | Radio New Zealand Dir. Jane Waddell |
Training.
| Audition Technique Workshop, Auckland, NZ - 2005, Terri De'Ath | |||
| R.A.P Workshops, Wellington, NZ - 2004, Peter Feeny | |||
| Standard American Accent Workshop - 2002, Rowena Balos | |||
| Bachelor of Performing Arts - Acting Major - 2001, Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School | |||
| The Extended Human Voice - 2000, Bert Van Dyke |