Some of Oceania’s most empowering and electrifying poetry will be taking centre stage in UPU this month as part of the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT)’s Reimagine festival. UPU, which means word in Samoan, is curated by Grace Iwashita-Taylor. Directed by Fastina Amosa, the 70-minute show features Māori and Pacifica poetry performed by actors. For one of those actors, Nicola Kawana, it’s a case of coming home to her maunga, as she grew up in South Taranaki. Stratford Press editor Ilona Hanne caught up with Nicola to find out a bit more about the show and Nicola’s own career.
No hea koe? - Where are you from and where did you grow up?
Kei te uri ahau o Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Rangitane, Ngāti Kahungungu o Wairarapa hoki. I was born and raised in Hāwera, South Taranaki. I went to Turuturu Primary School, Hāwera Intermediate and Hāwera High School and then went to drama school in Wellington at Toi Whakaari. I have now lived in Tamaki Makaurau/ Auckland for the past 26 years.
To many television fans, you are probably best known for playing Huia Samuels in Shortland Street - but that’s not the only show you have been in on television / film. What else have you been in?
I’ve been working as an actress now for over three decades so have quite a body of work, I can’t even remember half the gigs I’ve done. I got my first big telly job on Jacksons Wharf. I worked opposite Martin Clunes in The Man Who Lost His Head, and with Temuera Morrison in Fresh Meat. Other screen jobs include The Tender Trap, One Lane Bridge, My Life Is Murder, Legend Of The Seeker, Maui’s Hook, and Eruption.