Wi Kuki Kaa (16 December 1938 â€" 19 February 2006) was a New Zealand
actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Maori tribes of
Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New
Zealand's East Cape. 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, an
Anglican church leader, child welfare advocate, and Arapera Blank, a
writer and poet.Kaa featured in many films, including the lead role of
'Iwi' in Ngati (1987), written by Tama Poata and directed by Barry
Barclay. 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 in the Critics Week programme. He also played a lead
role in the film Utu (1983) directed by Geoff Murphy. Kaa also acted
as the ADR artist for the 2003 short film, Two Cars, One Night. Kaa
featured in the music video Little Things by Wellington roots dub band
Trinity Roots. In 2006, Kaa died in Wellington aged 67.
actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Maori tribes of
Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New
Zealand's East Cape. 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, an
Anglican church leader, child welfare advocate, and Arapera Blank, a
writer and poet.Kaa featured in many films, including the lead role of
'Iwi' in Ngati (1987), written by Tama Poata and directed by Barry
Barclay. 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 in the Critics Week programme. He also played a lead
role in the film Utu (1983) directed by Geoff Murphy. Kaa also acted
as the ADR artist for the 2003 short film, Two Cars, One Night. Kaa
featured in the music video Little Things by Wellington roots dub band
Trinity Roots. In 2006, Kaa died in Wellington aged 67.
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