Nicola Kāwana (born 1970) is a New Zealand actress, best known for playing Huia Samuels on the longest running New Zealand television series Shortland Street. Other roles include Mercy Peak, Jackson's Wharf, Lollie in The Man Who Lost His Head and “Mad” Maggie in Apex Legends.
Career Kāwana was born in Taranaki, and was part of Taranaki Youth Theatre. She did actor training at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School graduating in 1994.
As of 20 August 2006, the character Huia Samuels has been written out of Shortland Street. It was reported that Kāwana was very angry with the decision. However, the story that appeared went to print based on gossip. Kāwana was unable to give her side of the story due to the legal constraints of her contract to South Pacific Pictures, the makers of the serial programme.
July 2021 was the premier of a play Kāwana wrote called Kūpapa. This play is about an ancestor of Kāwana's, Lucy Takiora Lord, who was involved in significant historical events in Aotearoa New Zealand. The play was presented by Te Pou Theatre in Auckland and directed by Erina Daniels.
Kāwana also works as a garden writer, gardener and presenter on the Māori TV show, Whānau Living. Nicola is a member of Equity New Zealand, a UNICEF Global Parent.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role NotesRef1998Saving GraceNurse2005DeRezny's MotherShort2009KehuaSarahShort2012Fresh MeatMargaret Crane2013Pumanawa: The GiftSpirit PareShort2018Maui's Hook
Television Year Title Role NotesRef1998Jaguarheads"The Secret Mountain"1999Jackson's WharfMahina JacksonRecurring role2002Mercy PeakKarina Chadwick"Do the Right Thing", "Fear and Loathing"2002MatakuTui Burton"The Rocks"2005–06Shortland StreetHuia SamuelsRegular role2007LollieTV film2008Legend of the SeekerSylvia"Brennidon"2010EruptionMereTV film2011Brown BruthazTV series2014TV film2015Find Me a Maori BrideJudge Judy"1.8"2016ResetMereTV film2016Tina"Over Her Dead Body", "A Merry Bloody Christmas"2017KiwiJaniceTV film2018Meera"A Part of You That's Missing"2018In Dark PlacesP.C. SaluTV film2019AhikāroaDina"Season 2"2026Bust UpLesley KelseyTV series
Video games Year Title Role NotesRef2021–presentApex LegendsMad Maggie
Theatre Kāwana's first professional role was in Hone Tuwhare’s In the Wilderness Without a Hat in 1989 at Taki Rua.
Her theatre acting roles include: Year TitlePlaywright RoleDirectorProducerNotes Ref1995Five AngelsHone KoukaAlison QuignanCentrepoint Theatre1996Mo & Jess Kill SusieGary HendersonGary HendersonBATS Theatre 1998HomefiresHone KoukaTiaNathaniel LeesDownstage Theatrein NZ Festival of the Arts programme1998KindertransportDiane SamuelsMotherDonagh ReesHerald TheatreUnreal Theatre Company1999Les Parents TerriblesJean CocteauMadelineCathy DownesCirca Theatre2001Woman Far WalkingWiti IhimaeraTillyChristian PennyTaki Rua Productionsperformed in New Plymouth (July) and at the Herald Theatre, Auckland in August2012The Motor Camp Dave ArmstrongDawn TaoioaRoy WardAuckland Theatre CompanyComedy, based on a story by Danny Mulheron 2012Awatea Bruce MasonPeraColin McCollATC2014FixJess SayerGraceSam SneddonThe Basement2015A Dolls HouseEmily PerkinsChristineColin McCollATCadapted from Ibsen's original2018Rendered Stuart HoarMajor AriaKatie WolfeATC2018Under the Mountain Pip HallAunty NoelineSara BrodieATCadapted from Maurice Gee novel2019AstromanAlbert BelzMrs MaharaTainui TukiawaloATCin assoc. with Te Rehia Theatre and Auckland Arts Festival.2020The Master BuilderHendik IbsenDr KerdalColin McCollATCa hybrid of theatre and film2020Red Rabbit, White RabbitNassim SoleimanpourSoloThe AudienceSilo TheatreImprovisation from playwright's instructions, unseen by the actor2021Things That Matter Gary HendersonCarolAnapela Polata'ivaoATCadapted from a memoir by Dr David Galler
Awards 1996 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards - Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year - Mo & Jess Kill Susie by Gary Henderson
References
External links
Full CV of Nicole Kawana at aucklandactors.co.nz NZ Herald Story about character cut Nicola Kawana Home NZ