Kevin Taumata

{{Infobox person

| image =

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| name = {{nowrap|Kevin Taumata}}

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| birth_place = Hastings, New Zealand

| occupation = Film and television actor

| years_active = 1999–present

| website = }}

Kevin James Taumata is a Māori New Zealander Australian film and television actor.{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/housos/cast/detail/id/1022 |title=Kevin Taumata |publisher=SBS |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}

Television career

Taumata moved with his family to the Inner West of Sydney at the age of 8. He began his acting career at the age of 14 obtaining work as an extra on Heartbreak High.

In 1999, he landed a role on Nine Network's Murder Call.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0851506/ |title=Kevin Taumata: Filmography |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}

He has featured prominently in the SBS television series Fat Pizza, Swift & Shift Couriers and Housos.{{cite web|last=Idato |first=Michael |title=Struggle street comedy series returns |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/struggle-street-comedy-series-returns-20130717-2q2ud.html |date=18 July 2013 |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}

In 2014, he starred in the comedy reality television series Bogan Hunters on Seven Network's 7mate, as "Kev the Kiwi".{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/housos-stars-reveal-australias-biggest-bogans-id-probably-be-scared-20140401-35vpo.html |title=Housos stars reveal Australia's biggest bogans: 'I'd probably be scared' |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 April 2014 |last=Galvin |first=Nick |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/bogan-hunters-car-testicles-television/2289585/ |title=Bogan Hunters is the car testicles of television |work=Sunshine Coast Daily |date=15 June 2014 |last=Marshall |first=Rebecca |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondhe.com.au/news/the-bogan-hunters-are-raw--uncut-on-dvd |title=The Bogan Hunters are Raw & Uncut on DVD! |publisher=Beyond Home Entertainment |date=27 June 2014 |last=Eedy |first=Matt |accessdate=9 November 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108134345/http://www.beyondhe.com.au/news/the-bogan-hunters-are-raw--uncut-on-dvd |url-status=dead }}

In 2019, he starred in the sixth season of the popular sitcom Fat Pizza, entitled "Fat Pizza: Back in Business" on Seven Network's 7mate.

When Housos won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program in 2014, Taumata was with the show's director Paul Fenech to accept the award in Melbourne. As a nod to bogandom, they both wore jeans, suit jackets covered in tattoo designs, and thongs.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/good-weekend/fat-pizza-star-paul-fenechs-fight-against-snobs-20140926-10don4.html |title=Fat Pizza star Paul Fenech's fight against snobs |last=Robson |first=Frank |date=27 September 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=9 November 2014 }}

Filmography

Early in his career, Taumata was featured in the 1999 movie Kick as a fullback.

Later, he portrayed the popular character Kev the Kiwi in the feature films Housos vs. Authority (2012) and Fat Pizza vs. Housos (2014).{{cite web|url=http://www.hoyts.com.au/movies/2014/fat_pizza_vs_housos.aspx |title=Fat Pizza Vs Housos |publisher=Hoyts |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129060848/http://www.hoyts.com.au/movies/2014/fat_pizza_vs_housos.aspx |archivedate=29 November 2014 }}