Skip to main content

HalaifonuaFinau

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Actor
Halaifonua-Finau-PP.jpg

When Tongan-Kiwi Halaifonua Finau landed his first screen acting gig at age 17 on Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby, he quickly took an interest in being a producer. After gleaning advice from producers on his next slew of acting jobs, Finau stepped into producing on kids' show Small Blacks TV.  Since then, he has been a producer on Polynesian comedies Baby Mama's Club and SIS, and a writer on Jonah Lomu miniseries Jonah. Finau has both writer and producer credits on semi-autobiographical movie Red, White and Brass, and award-winning drama series The Panthers. In 2021 he co-founded production company Tavake, with Tom Hern. 

Screenography

2023 Writer, Producer Film
The Panthers
2021 Creator, Writer, Executive Producer Series
SIS
2020 Development Producer Series
2019 Writer, Trainee Producer, Tongan Advisor Television
2019 Writer Series

Awards

2022 New Zealand Television Awards
Best Drama Series: The Panthers

“With Jonah and The Panthers and now Red, White & Brass, they all highlight the uniqueness and special energy that we have as Tongans. So that’s what will always be next for me: how can I carry on waving the flag and putting on for my little country?”

Halaifonua Finau, in an interview with Regional News, 26 September 2023

Related images

Gormsby-actors.jpg
From left: Afioga (Feterika Sage), Alupepe (Halaifonua Finau) and Elvis (R.J Smiler), in comedy series Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby.
Photo courtesy of Direct Hit Productions