Tainui Tukiwaho is an experienced writer and performer having worked professionally in te ao whakaari for the past 20 years. He began his career as an actor after graduating from Unitec. Using this skill as a foundation for storytelling, he progressed to directing and writing where - over the past 10 years - he has built a sizable resume.
Tainui observed a lack of Māori voices on our professional stages and quickly adopted and implemented a distinctive style and perspective representative of his cultural background.
His plays have been shortlisted for the Adam New Zealand Play Award three times: in 2021 for Hemo is Home, in 2022 for The Sun and the Wind and in 2023 for The best of Tūhoe. In 2023 Tainui was awarded the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.
Tainui is the founder of Te Pou Theatre.