Wi Kuki Kaa
{{Short description|New Zealand actor (1938–2006)}}
{{en-NZ|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= November 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Wi Kuki Kaa
| image = Wi Kuki Kaa.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|12|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rangitukia, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|2|19|1938|12|16|df=yes}}
| death_place = Wellington, New Zealand
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1971–2006
| notable_works = Worzel Gummidge Down Under as Travelling scarecrow maker
| relatives = {{ubl
| Keri Kaa (sister)
| Hone Kaa (brother)
| Arapera Blank (sister)
}}
}}
Wi Kuki Kaa (16 December 1938 – 19 February 2006) was a New Zealand actor in film, theatre and television.
Career
Kaa featured in many films, including the lead role of Iwi in Ngati (1987), written by Tama Poata and directed by Barry Barclay.{{Cite book|title=Images of dignity : Barry Barclay and fourth cinema|last=Murray|first=Stuart|date=2008|publisher=Huia|isbn=978-1-86969-328-2|location=Wellington, N.Z.|pages=56–57|oclc=219583209}} Kaa won the "Best Film Performance, Male" at the 1988 New Zealand Film and TV Awards for this role, and in 1987 alongside Barclay, Poata and producer John O'Shea attended a screening at Cannes Film Festival in the Critics Week programme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/ngati|title=Ngati|website=New Zealand Film Commission|language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}} He also played a lead role in the film Utu (1983) directed by Geoff Murphy.{{cite web|title=Obituary: Wi Kuki Kaa|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00279.htm|publisher=scoop.co.nz|date=20 February 2006|accessdate=23 August 2009}} Kaa featured in the music video Little Things by Wellington roots dub band Trinity Roots.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Little Things {{!}} Music Video|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/little-things-2001|access-date=2021-11-08|website=NZ On Screen |language=en-NZ}} In 2006, Kaa died in Wellington aged 67.{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Wi Kuki Kaa|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/emobituaryem-wi-kuki-kaa/EPSV2MD5NZ4R4AC4K2M2DF7DVQ/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Filmography
=Film=
- Inn of the Damned (1975) – Tom
- Utu (1983) – Wiremu
- The Bounty (1984) – King Tynah
- Kingpin (1985) – Mr Nathan
- Ngati (1987) – Iwi
- Linda's Body (1990, Short) – Hemi
- Te Rau (1991) – Rewi Marangai
- Turangawaewae (2002) – Tiare (Koro)
- River Queen (2005) – Old Rangi
=Television=
- Homicide (1971) – Rollo
- Spyforce (1973) – Matthas / Hiromoto / Nikolu Yaratomo / Colonel Mayusaki / Sergeant Shikoya
- Silent Number (1974) – Tony
- Worzel Gummidge Down Under (1986–1987) – Travelling Scarecrow Maker
- The Diamond of Jeru (2001, TV Movie) – Inghai
- The Strip (2002) – Bible Bill
- Der Liebe entgegen (2002, TV Movie) – Henry Tufare
Family
Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New Zealand's East Cape. He was from the Māori tribes of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu. His father was the Reverend Tipi Whenua Kaa, from Rangitukia, who was vicar of the Waiapu parish and his mother Hohipene Kaa (formerly Whaanga) was from Wairoa. He was one of 12 children. His siblings include: Keri Kaa, a writer and Māori language advocate; Hone Kaa, an Anglican church leader and child welfare advocate; and Arapera Blank, a writer and poet.{{cite web |title=Wi Kuka Kaa - Biography |url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/wi-kuki-kaa/biography |accessdate=10 April 2016 |website=NZ On Screen }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0433922}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaa, Wi Kuki}}
Category:New Zealand male stage actors
Category:New Zealand male film actors
Category:New Zealand male television actors
Category:New Zealand male Māori actors
Category:Ngāti Kahungunu people
{{NewZealand-actor-stub}}
{{Māori-bio-stub}}