Drew Ne'emia
{{Short description|New Zealand television personality}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Drew Ne'emia
| image =Drewsinging.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt = Ne'emia in 2009
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|05|28}}
| birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand
| years_active = 1988–present
| television = McDonald's Young Entertainers{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/110431513/flashback-friday-where-in-the-world-is-drew-neemia|title=Flashback Friday: Where in the world is Drew Neemia?|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=7 February 2019}}
}}
Drew Ne'emia (born 28 May 1985) is a New Zealand television presenter and director. In 2022, he announced that his last name is Ne'emia, not Neemia, as had been previously used.{{Cite web |last=Reitsma |first=Bethany |date=2 October 2022 |title=The Masked Singer NZ: Unicorn crowned the winner - but who is she? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/the-masked-singer-nz-2022-finale-bedazzled-unicorn-is-crowned-the-winner-but-whos-beneath-the-mask/46KPT2FFUTH7PAT74DTI2ZP6FM/ |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Early life
Ne'emia attended Hutt International Boys' School.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Career
Ne'emia has been involved in the New Zealand entertainment industry since the age of three, doing television advertisements which led the way to various children's television drama series.
His first major role was in the television series The Legend of William Tell.
He was a Super Trouper in the television series McDonald's Young Entertainers for its duration of three years until 1999.
Ne'emia hosted Sticky TV[http://www.stickytv.co.nz Shows - Kids - TV - FOUR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227153519/http://www.stickytv.co.nz/ |date=27 February 2009 }}. Sticky TV. Retrieved on 2012-05-02. a kids/teen program, on TV3 from 2006 on which he worked with Sam Wallace, Julia Bloore (née Wright), Erin Simpson and Kanoa Lloyd. He officially left the show on 1 May 2009.
Ne'emia co-hosted Drew and Shannon Live on Four (previously C4) until 2012. Drew and Shannon Live was a popular music and entertainment based show from 4.30pm-6pm weekdays. Previously Ne'emia hosted 'Select Live' on C4.{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10566765&ref=rss |title=Presenter grows up |date=16 April 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=29 September 2011}}
As a singer, Ne'emia performed on numerous occasions at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090217045807/http://www.christmasinthepark.co.nz/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=3 Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park]. www.christmasinthepark.co.nz
In 2013, Ne'emia teamed up with New Zealand rap group Smashproof singing the hook on the single "Paint Fade".{{Cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=2210|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313133316/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=2210|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 March 2017|title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart}} The song was number 1 on the overall iTunes chart for two weeks. "Paint Fade" went on to make the top 10 on the 'Official New Zealand Top 40' chart, peaking at number 6.
Ne'emia began directing in 2014.
In 2022, Ne'emia was a contestant on the second season of The Masked Singer NZ, where he finished in second place.
Personal life
In 2016, Ne'emia began training with New Zealand heavyweight boxing legend David Tua. In November 2016, he debuted in the boxing ring, winning by unanimous decision. His next bout will be scheduled mid 2017.{{Update inline|date=September 2021}} He has reportedly dedicated his life to martial arts.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-07|title=The Kiwis who tasted fame and found a new life after the limelight|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/115521609/the-kiwis-who-tasted-fame-and-found-a-new-life-after-the-limelight|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Stuff |language=en}}
In 2022, after being unmasked on The Masked Singer NZ, he announced that his last name is actually Ne'emia.{{Cite news |date=3 October 2022 |title=Guys, we've all been saying Drew Ne'emia's name wrong this entire time |language=en |url=https://www.theedge.co.nz/home/scandal/2022/10/guys-weve-all-been-saying-drew-neemias-name-wrong-this-entire-time-.html |access-date=5 October 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0624236}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ne'emia, Drew}}
Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent
Category:Mass media people from Wellington City
Category:New Zealand television personalities