Tanea Heke

Tanea Heke, MNZN, studied acting at Toi Whakaari Drama School in 1997, as a self-described "reasonably impressionable but mature student, with two kids and a student loan". She returned as the school's director 22 years later as a respected actor, theatre producer and arts administrator. Alongside her prolific theatre career, Heke's screen roles include acclaimed films Cousins, The Justice of Bunny King and Waru. No stranger to comedy, she has also appeared in TV series Wellington Paranormal and Not Even. Heke is the co-founder of theatre company Hāpai Productions, alongside the late Nancy Brunning.   

This is not for the faint-hearted. There are many rewards, but often not monetary. Personally, it’s the privilege of sharing work with my people and the resonance and connection that comes through the telling of our stories in our own way. Tanea Heke on life as an actor in a Stuff interview, 25 Feb 2021