Maaka Pohatu

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) starring Bret McKenzie and Hamish Blake.

Maaka is most well-known for his role as Sergeant Maaka, in four seasons of What We Do in The Shadows spinoff series Wellington Paranormal created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. His other local and international screen credits include Far North by David White alongside Robyn Malcolm and Temuera Morrison, Miles From Nowhere, Our Flag Means Death S2, Time Bandits, and James Ashcroft’s The Rule of Jenny Pen with Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow.

Maaka has performed in a multitude of theatrical productions ranging from the critically acclaimed Strange Resting Places and The Māori Troilus and Cressida, which featured at the prestigious Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London to A Slightly Isolated Dog’s highly acclaimed recreation of Moliere’s Don Juan. He is also a professional musician and is a member of the Modern Māori Quartet.

Maaka is a graduate of leading New Zealand drama school, Toi Whakaari. He has advanced skills in martial arts, guitar, singing, and is fluent in Te Reo Māori.