Hone Kouka

Ngati Porou, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu, Kai Tahu; M.N.Z.M.

Hone is an acclaimed Maori director, producer and writer, youngest winner of the Bruce Mason Playwrights Award and multiple award winner. He has had plays produced in South Africa, Britain, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Caledonia, as well as throughout New Zealand, with three plays being translated into French, Japanese and Russian.

Kouka, along with Miria George founded theatre and film production house Tawata Productions, producing the works of Maori and Pacific artists. He became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Contemporary Maori Theatre in June 2009. He had two films screening at the 2016 Berlin Film festival: Born to Dance(screenwriter) and Mahana (Executive Producer).