Iwi : Ngāti Tāmanuhiri
Te Reo Level : Fluent
Maaka Pohatu
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- Māori
- Age Range
- 43 - 51
- Height
- 185cm / 6ft 1in
- Bust/Chest
- 140cm / 55in
- Waist
- 150cm / 59in
- Hips
- 149cm / 59in
Bio
Maaka Pohatu is a beloved and celebrated actor who made his screen debut in 2012 in Two Little Boys, directed by Robert Sarkies (Scarfies, Pike River), alongside Bret McKenzie and Hamish Blake.
Maaka is best known for his role as Sergeant Maaka in all four seasons of the What We Do in the Shadows spin-off series Wellington Paranormal, created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. His extensive local and international screen credits include Far North, directed by David White, alongside Robyn Malcolm and Temuera Morrison; Miles From Nowhere; Our Flag Means Death Season 2; Time Bandits; and James Ashcroft's The Rule of Jenny Pen, starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. Most recently, he has appeared in the New Zealand series Happiness, Warren's Vortex, and Tangata Pai.
Maaka has performed in a wide range of theatrical productions, from the critically acclaimed Strange Resting Places and The Māori Troilus and Cressida, which was performed at the prestigious Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, to A Slightly Isolated Dog's acclaimed reimagining of Molière's Don Juan. He is also a professional musician and a member of the Modern Māori Quartet.
A graduate of New Zealand's leading drama school, Toi Whakaari, Maaka has advanced skills in martial arts, guitar, and singing, and is fluent in Te Reo Māori.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Dr Neels | Dir. James Ashcroft | Feature Film |
| 2019 | Savage | Gang Member | Dir. Sam Kelly | Feature Film |
| 2019 | Vai | Sonny | Dir. Becs Arahanga | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Poi E | Dalvanius Prime | Dir. Te Arepa Kahi | Feature Film |
| 2015 | The Umbrella Man | Toko | Dir. Lennie Hill, Mark Ruka, Darren Simmonds | Feature Film |
| 2012 | Two Little Boys | Gav | Dir. Robert Sarkies | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | NZ Wars 6: Waerenga A Hika | Raharuhi Rukupo | Aotearoa Media Collective | Drama |
| 2025-2026 | Happiness Season 1 & 2 | Mikaere | Greenstone TV | Drama |
| 2026 | Blue Murder Hotel | Devlin | Great Southern Television | Drama |
| 2025 | Tangata Pai | Bim | Warner Bros, Green Sugar Media , dir: Kiel McNaughton | Drama |
| 2025 | Warren's Vortex | Warren | Freemantle Media, dir: Jason Stutter & Tim Van Dammen | Drama |
| 2025 | Conan O'Brien Must Go | Maaka | Nature Film NZ, dir: Mike Sweeney | Drama |
| 2024 | Time Bandits | Gavin | Apple+, dir. Various | Drama |
| 2024 | Kairākau Season 4 | Te Koreke | Velvet Stone Media | Drama |
| 2024 | Miles from Nowhere | Waheed | Neon, The Gibson Group, dir: Ghazaleh Gol | Drama |
| 2023 | Our Flag Means Death Season 2 | Pirate Captain | Emporium Productions Ltd, Taika Waititi | Drama |
| 2022 | Far North | Stevie | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2020 | Mystic S1 | Tipene | Libertine Pictures | Drama |
| 2018-2021 | Wellington Paranormal | Sergeant Maaka | New Zealand Documentary Board Ltd | Drama |
| 2017 | Tongue Tied | Haami | Greenstone TV Ltd | Drama |
| 2015 | Find Me a Maori Bride | Maaka | Brown Apple Sugar Grunt Productions | Drama |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Monster In The Maze | King Minos | NZ Opera | |
| 2019 | Two Worlds - The Modern Maori Quartet | Big Bro | Adelaide Cabaret Festival | |
| 2015 | Don Juan | Maurice | Dir: Leo Gene Peters - A Slightly Isolated Dog Productions | |
| 2013 | Ngā Bro E Whā | Big Bro | Dir: Rachel House - Boss Productions | |
| 2012 | Toroihi rāua ko Kāhira / The Māori Troilus and Cressida ‘ | Ahaka / Ajax | Dir: Rachel House - Globe Theatre Festival - UK | |
| 2012 | Sydney Bridge Upside Down | Dibs/Mrs Kelly | Takirua Theatre Company | |
| 2010 | Mark Twain and Me in Māoriland | Ra | Dir: John Bolton - Takirua Productions | |
| 2007-2009 | Strange Resting Places | Anaru Kingi | Dir: Leo Gene Peters - Takirua Productions |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Devil in The Gat | Matua Jack | My Four Sons Productions / Show Me Shorts Festival | Short Film |
| 2025 | The Broken Circle | James | 897 Studio Ltd, dir: Bella Wai | Short Film |
| 2022 | Search for Hawaiki | Fable | Black Lantern | Short Film |
| 2019 | Ani | Sonny | Dir Josephine Stewart Te Whiu | Short Film |
| 2016 | Possum | Toko | Dir. Dave Whitehead | Short Film |
| 2012 | Inorganic | Fat Larry | Dir. Maria-Elena Doyle | Short Film |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Chorus (Fibre Defence) | Jay | Saatchi & Saatchi |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Bachelor of Performing Arts | Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School |
Languages
Advanced: Te Reo Māori
Accents
Advanced: Latin American | Māori | New Zealand | UK - Cockney | UK - English
Intermediate: American - General | American - Ghetto | American - Urban | British | Eastern European | Italian | Mandarin
Sports
Advanced: Martial Arts
Intermediate: Boxing | Kick Boxing | Wrestling
Circus & Horse
Advanced: Impersonation
Intermediate: Stage Combat
Driving & Flying
Advanced: Driving (general)
Stunts & Weapons
Intermediate: Weapons
Singing Range
Baritone
Singing Styles
Advanced: Ballad | Blues | Cabaret | Choral | Contemporary | General | Popular | Show
Musical Instruments
Advanced: Guitar
Dance
Advanced: Māori
Intermediate: General Movement | Hip Hop