Tikirau Hathaway

Tikirau Hathaway is New Zealand Maori - the indigenous peoples of New Zealand - of Tuhoe descent. Born in Masterton, New Zealand in 1997, he started his education in Wellington, attending Kohanga Reo (Te Reo Maori pre-school) and commencing his school education at five years old at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna (Te Reo Maori immersion primary and secondary school) in Wellington. He moved to New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, at the age of six. He has grown up in and around the radio, television and film industry and kick-started his involvement at the early age of ten years old as a fill-in camera operator. His love of performing has seen him take the stage with his band and with his college for kapahaka - Maori performing arts - his school winning both divisions of the regional competition for the last two years. He has only attended Te Reo Maori (native language of New Zealand's indigenous peoples) total immersion language education providers. His education has given him double the opportunities as a dual language speaker.