Waimihi Hotere

Date of Birth:

4 June 1976

Iwi:

Te Aupouri/Ngati Maniapoto/Armstrong

Whānau:

Mum, Dad, Bro, Sis.

Educational background:

Marae, school, Nana's, and home.

Tell us something you remember about school:

Good fun, yarning with the teachers, and going to the States.

Occupation:

Actor, vocalist, director.

What did you want to be when you were young?

A mum and alive. I watched too many movies on the nuclear holocaust and thought the world was going to end before I could make babies.

Who are your inspirational role models?

Ralph Hotere – how many shades of black can there be?
Nancy Brunning – she cracks me up and makes me cry.

What significant event has influenced your life?

My grandmother passing away - she was like our second mum.

What is your favourite...

· food?

Free.

· music?

Live.

· person/people?

Breathing.

· movie?

Mauri, The Matrix (the first), Labyrinth.

· TV programme?

Six Feet Under.

· pastime?

Music - listening, playing and making music.

Tell us about some of your personal qualities and attributes.

I love to meet new people and I reckon I can talk the ears off a rabbit.

What would be your ideal day?

Am I allowed to say that out loud?

What is your most embarrassing moment?

My ideal day.

What are your ambitions?

To have a family of my own.

What sparked your interest in following your particular career path?

My whānau - everyone sang when I was growing up. It never occurred to me that not everyone played the guitar until I first moved away from home. Instead of Teletubbies and Sesame Street we had wananga mau rakau, piano accordion players, ballroom dancing, Spanish lessons and Hungarian, Japanese, Peruvian or Persian dinners at people's homes. Being one of the few Māori at my school was a good thing because I was always chosen to represent my class and school. This also meant that I was always at meetings or competitions for speeches, choirs or kapa haka. It's only natural my life would continue in this way. Kia ora!

May 2004