Taika Waititi New Zealander of the year

A short film profiling Waititi can be viewed below. Photo: Youtube.

Filmmaker, actor, artist and champion of New Zealand culture, Taika Waititi has been named 2017 New Zealander of the Year.

Waititi was unable to receive the award in person due to work commitments in Los Angeles.

His wife, Chelsea Winstanley, collected the award on his behalf from the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Bill English.

Accompanied by Hunt for the Wilderpeople actor Julian Dennison, Winstanley also collected the Kiwibank kaitaka huaki cloak, Pouhine, from last year's New Zealander of the Year, Richie McCaw.

Waititi has achieved success as a writer, director, actor, comedian, visual artist and story teller.

He is passionate about engaging youth in the arts as a positive outlet for creativity and is determined to raise awareness of youth suicide rates and child poverty.

A short film profiling Waititi can be viewed at https://inner.kiwi/new-zealander-year/taika-waititi-nzer-year-finalist-2017/.

Waititi's fellow finalists for the title of New Zealander of the Year were educator and researcher Professor Mere Berryman and Principal Advisor for the Salvation Army's Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit Major Campbell Roberts.

'As 2017 New Zealander of the Year, Taika Waititi is an exciting and inspiring example of who and what we are as Kiwis,” says chief judge Cameron Bennett.

'Creative, courageous, audacious, subversive and downright funny, he's at the forefront of New Zealand filmmaking and the arts.

'Taika's outstanding contribution has not only been rewarded with record box-office success at home - he's also been highly successful in showcasing who and what we are to the world.

'His films represent the importance of whanau, of belonging and the challenges facing youth at the margins of society. He's a special talent, a huge inspiration for young, up-and-coming film directors and producers and a thoroughly worthy recipient of this year's supreme award.”

Category Winners

University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year: Rez Gardi (Auckland Central) – for services to human rights

Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year: Sue Paterson ONZM (Wellington) – for services to the arts

Mitre 10 Community of the Year: Randwick Park (Manurewa, Auckland) – for contribution to the economic, social and environmental health of their community

Sanitarium Innovator of the Year: Dr. Ed Gane (Auckland Central) – for services to health

Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year: Hayden Smith (Titirangi, Auckland) – for services to conservation

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1 comment

Fabulous

Posted on 23-02-2017 08:55 | By overit

This man is very talented and humble.


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