Kauri Williams
Kauri Williams, who graduated from the Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts in 2019, has been selected for a part in Māori Television’s bilingual series Ahikāroa, which follows the trials and tribulations of urban rangatahi.
Kauri has been filming series 2 of Ahikāroa for the last few months and plays the character Whatukura McGregor, a Maori police officer/iwi liaison.
The television series has some strong Unitec connections, with a number of Maori and Pacific graduates involved: Acting graduate Tomai Ihaia was cast in series 1 while Tainui Tukiwaho (co-writer) and Joan James (Costume Assistant) were also involved. Kiel McNaughton and Hanelle Harris are co-directors and Hannelle is also on the storyliner team with fellow graduate and New Zealand comedian/actor, Kura Forrester. Screen Arts graduates Nikora Edwards and Gabriel Muller are both sound recordists.
Alexandra Whitham said our Creative Industries team is very proud of Kauri, and all of the School’s graduates.
“We sincerely congratulate Kauri Williams on winning the sought-after role of Whatukura McGregor in Maori TV’s popular Ahikāroa series. We’re always thrilled to see our graduates succeeding! Kauri demonstrated huge commitment to the craft of acting during his studies at Unitec. Audiences will remember his powerful performance of John Proctor in The Crucible, and Dionysus in Te Pakkhai. As a fluent Te Reo speaker and acclaimed Kapa Haka performer, Kauri also showed leadership within our school, supporting both Māori and non-Māori students and staff to grow in their knowledge of Te Ao Māori. We wish him, and all our graduates involved in this and other projects, every success!”
Find out more on the Ahikaroa website.