Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke

Kura-Kakerangi Turuwhenua has earnt bragging rights with her first short film ‘Whitey and Te Putiputi’ screening in this year's Māoriland Film Festival. This is the largest indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Her film was given official selection status in the festival which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary.

In her television mahi Kura produced a number of stories for TV3’s The Hui summer series in the last weeks of Mihingarangi Forbes being the show's presenter. One story received the highest number of Facebook views for its summer series, and remains most popular. Kura has been an assistant editor with The Hui but will follow Mihingarangi Forbes and multi-awardwinning show creator Annabelle Lee-Mather to work on their new show launching soon.

However, it is her great love for comedy that she keeps returning to. After some time on the stand-up comedy circuit, last year she won the NZ Raw Comedy Competition, and Best Newcomer – NZ Comedy Guild as well as a string of other awards. Now she is debuting her first ever solo show called Hōhā Guy from the 9 – 13 May at Bats Theatre in Wellington.

Using what she loves to be helpful for our whānau needing support. Kura used this expression to perform with other entertainers in a crucial fundraiser for Cyclone Gabrielle victims. Aptly called The Māori Comic Relief Benefit, the fundraiser was held at Te Pou Theatre in West Auckland on 1 April.