Vela Manusaute
Born
Niue
Occupation(s)Writer, Director

Vela Manusaute is a Niuean writer and director. He is the creator and writer of New Zealand's first bilingual English-Tongan television series, Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a.[1]

Background

Vela is part-Niuean and part-Samoan; he was born in Niue and lived in his village Mutalau before his family moved to New Zealand in 1979.[2] He graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama Scholl in 1995 with a Diploma in Acting, and was their first Niuean to graduate.[3][4] In 2002 he founded the theatre and music group Kila Kokonut Krew.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Tattooist Actor - Taxi Driver 2 Television
2010 Matariki Actor - Russ Television
2013 The Factory Executive producer, actor - Mason Web series
2018 The Messiah Director Short film
2020 Educators Actor - Vela Television
2020 Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a Director Television

Awards

In 1997 he won the Best Male Comedy award at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards as one half of comedy duo The Brownies.[5]

With Anapela Polataivao he received the New Generation Award for theatre at the 2014 Arts Foundation Awards.[6]

In 2020 he won the Best Screenplay and Best Art Directions awards for his short film The Messiah at the Pacific Rims Film Festival 2020.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "All-Tongan cast in pioneer bilingual drama series in NZ". RNZ. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Vela Manusaute". Little Island Press. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Graduate". www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Vela Manusaute". NZ on Screen. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Vela Manusaute's Biography". The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "2014 Westpac New Zealand Arts Awards recipients announced". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2017.


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