Te Reo Level : Fluent
Tanea Heke MNZM
- Locations
- Wellington
- Ethnicity
- Māori
- Age Range
- 57 - 69
- Height
- 176cm / 5ft 9in
- Bust/Chest
- 108cm / 43in
- Waist
- 85cm / 33in
- Hips
- 108cm / 43in
Bio
Tanea is a phenomenal actor with a powerful presence. She has appeared in numerous TV series, including Xena, The Killian Curse, Karaoke High, Wellington Paranormal, Not Even S1 and most recently After The Party. Tanea has also worked on many well-received feature films in New Zealand, such as Naming Number Two, Waru, Gaysorn Thavat’s The Justice of Bunny King alongside leading actor Thomasin McKenzie, and Cousins by Ainsley Gardiner and Briar Grace Smith, where she played the role of Old Mata.
This year, Tanea will be seen on screen again in two new productions: the feature film Barbed Wire Canoe directed by Jason Sutter and Season 2 of the TVNZ series Not Even where she will reprise her role of Amo Michaels.
When not acting Tanea is the Director of Toi Whakaari, NZ’s leading drama school, she understands the creative world and has a strong background in arts administration. Being an Alumni of Toi Whakaari, she is particularly interested in the importance of the student journey beyond the school. Her commitment to upholding kaupapa Māori, mana Māori and mātauranga Māori in her work is a priority.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Caterpillar | Huia's Doctor | Miss Conception Films, dir: Chelsea Preston Crayford | Feature Film |
| 2025 | Holy Days | Patricia | Lily Pictures (CA), Fire Fly Films, dir: Nathalie Boltt | Feature Film |
| 2025 | Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant | Dr Sufjan Van Peoples | Candlelit Pictures, dir: Sean Wallace & Jordan Mark Windsor | Feature Film |
| 2023 | Barbed Wire Canoe | Tui | Centron Pictures, dir: Jason Sutter | Feature Film |
| 2021 | The Justice of Bunny King | Trish | Dir. Gaysorn Thavatt | Feature Film |
| 2021 | Cousins | Older Mata | Mis Conceptions, dir. Ainsley Gardiner & Briar Grace Smith | Feature Film |
| 2005 | Naming Number Two | Aunty Cat | Numero Films Ltd, dir. Toa Fraser | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dead Ahead | Nan | TVNZ, NZ on Air | Drama |
| 2025 | Warren's Vortex | Aunty Marama | Freemantle Media, dir: Jason Stutter & Tim Van Dammen | Drama |
| 2025 | The Gone S2 | Kuia | Keeper Pictures (IE), Kingfisher Films & Southern Lights (NZ), dir: Various | Drama |
| 2024 | Under the Vines S4 | Gail | Libertine Pictures | Drama |
| 2024 | After the Party | Ruth Nixon | After the Party Productions, dir: Peter Salmon | Drama |
| 2022-2024 | Not Even Season 1 & 2 | Amo Michaels | Miss Conception Films | Drama |
| 2022 | Whiro | Tiortioro | Sweetshop | Drama |
| 2020 | Wellington Paranormal | Council Worker | Drama | |
| 2014 | Too Much Love | Georgina Rawiri | KHF Media | Drama |
| 2008 | Until Proven Innocent | Mary | Lippy Productions, dir. Peter Burger | Drama |
| 2007 | The Killians Curse ll | Mrs Pritchard | TVNZ | Drama |
| 2006 | Karaoke High | Lead | TVNZ | Drama |
| 2005 | The Killians Curse | Mrs Pritchard | TVNZ | Drama |
| 1998 | Xena Warrior Princess | Ersina | Pacific Renn | Drama |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Home | Myrna | Glenda Tuaine,Bats, dir. Nina Nawalowalo | |
| 2001 | Haruru Mai | Pearl | ATC, dir. Simon Prast | |
| 2000 | Hand Job | BATS Theatre, dir. Conrad Newport | ||
| 2000 | Mum's the Word | Barbara St James Theatre, dir. Ellie Smith | ||
| 1999 | Julius Caesar | Portia | Circa Theatre, dir. Phill Mann | |
| 1999 | Kitchen Tables | Rewa | Phoenix, dir. Glenda Tuaine | |
| 1998 | Bystander | BATS Theatre, dir. Duncan Sarkies | ||
| 1998 | Coriolanus | Volumnia | Summer Shakespeare, dir. Oliver Driver, Burt Turner | |
| 1997 | Insurrection | Gertha Porter, Clerk Wife, Mistress Mo'tel | NZDS, dir. Timothy Douglas | |
| 1997 | The Birds | Myna Bird, Rugby Player | NZDS, dir. Robin Payne, Tolis Papazoglou | |
| 1997 | The Larks Song | Mrs Higgins | Dir. Raymond Boyce | |
| 1996 | The Human Cannon | Agustina Ruiz | Dir. Annie Ruth | |
| 1995 | Fairy Queen | Tom Snout/The Wall | Downstage Theatre | |
| 1995 | Macbeth | First Witch | VUW Drama Club dir. Carol Stevenson |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tama and Mahuika | Counsellor Anne | Ingot Films Limited | Short Film |
| 2023 | Follow the Light | Ahorangi | pro: Alfio Leotta, Cameron Madams & Emma O'Brien | Short Film |
| 2021 | Hannah | Shona | Whitirea Community Polytechnic | Short Film |
| 2015 | Jackpot | Ronda | NZ Film School | Short Film |
| 2000 | Guiding Light | Head nurse | Dir. Robin Murphy | Short Film |
| 1998 | Hei Tiki | For Women's Refuge | Short Film |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | New World 'Christmas' | Sue | Good Oil | |
| 2022 | Nz Sport | Push play reboot |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Acting for Screen Intensive | Liz Mullane & Rachel Bullock | ||
| 1997 | Toi Whakaari | NZ Drama School Diploma in Professional Drama | ||
| 1995 | Bachelor of Arts | Victoria University |
Sports
Intermediate: Roller Blading