Kura Turuwhenua
Comedian | Writer | ActorKura Turuwhenua (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tūhoe, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Moriori) is a crack up with a passion for dark and silly humour.
Her talent was recognised by the NZ Raw Comedy Quest in 2022, she won both Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Newcomer at the 2022 Auckland Fringe Festival, and in 2023 she was awarded Best Comedy Newcomer by the Comedy Guild.
Kura produces and directs her own comedic short films and her appealing and hilarious take on the world has lead to her materials going viral multiple times on both TikTok and Instagram. She is also a credited writer for New Zealand’s legendary panel show 7 Days, has co-written a sitcom which is in development, and is currently the co-host of two high rating podcasts.
Full Biography
Credits
Comedy
2023 - Hōhā Guy - Solo Show - New Zealand International Comedy Festival
2022 - Shoes Off (at the door) also featuring , Courtney Dawson, Chardé Heremaia, Aunty Lianne and Janaye Henry (MC)
2022 - The Comedy Mixtape with Pax Assadi - NZ International Comedy Festival
2022 - Raw Comedy Quest - The Classic Comedy Club
2022 - Sunday Comedy with Guy Montgomery
2022 - Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and Friends - The Tuning Fork Birthday Series
Short Film
2023 - Honey Kaha - Honey Kaha (lead) - Director - Te Waiarangi Ratana
Production
2022 - Ongoing - Associate Producer / Director - M9 - A Janda Productions Event
2022 - Social Media Intern - Kid Sister - Greenstone
2021 - Ongoing - Social Media Co -ordinator - Ngā Aho Whakaari
2021 - Production Intern - SIS The Show
Writer
2022 - present - Spec Writer - 7 Days
Podcast
2025 - Kāputi with the Cousins - Co-host
2025 - Tukua - Co-host - Radio New Zealand
2023 - Hōhā Guy - Solo Show - New Zealand International Comedy Festival
2022 - Shoes Off (at the door) also featuring , Courtney Dawson, Chardé Heremaia, Aunty Lianne and Janaye Henry (MC)
2022 - The Comedy Mixtape with Pax Assadi - NZ International Comedy Festival
2022 - Raw Comedy Quest - The Classic Comedy Club
2022 - Sunday Comedy with Guy Montgomery
2022 - Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and Friends - The Tuning Fork Birthday Series
Short Film
2023 - Honey Kaha - Honey Kaha (lead) - Director - Te Waiarangi Ratana
Production
2022 - Ongoing - Associate Producer / Director - M9 - A Janda Productions Event
2022 - Social Media Intern - Kid Sister - Greenstone
2021 - Ongoing - Social Media Co -ordinator - Ngā Aho Whakaari
2021 - Production Intern - SIS The Show
Writer
2022 - present - Spec Writer - 7 Days
Podcast
2025 - Kāputi with the Cousins - Co-host
2025 - Tukua - Co-host - Radio New Zealand
Training
2021 – Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Screen Production and Communications – The University of Auckland
Awards
2023 - Best New Comer - New Zealand Comedy Festival
2022 - Outstanding Newcomer - Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Outstanding Comedy (Overall) Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Unf**k The World - Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Best Newcomer, Upper North Island, NZ Comedy Guild
2022 - Finalist - NZ Raw Comedy Quest
2021 - Awarded placement on the University of Auckland Dean’s Honours List for three years
2021 - First in Class in Documentary Making, University of Auckland
2020 - Awarded Summer Internship Scholarship by the University of Auckland
2020 - Invited by University of Auckland to apply for Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University
2022 - Outstanding Newcomer - Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Outstanding Comedy (Overall) Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Unf**k The World - Shoes Off (at the door) Auckland Fringe Festival
2022 - Best Newcomer, Upper North Island, NZ Comedy Guild
2022 - Finalist - NZ Raw Comedy Quest
2021 - Awarded placement on the University of Auckland Dean’s Honours List for three years
2021 - First in Class in Documentary Making, University of Auckland
2020 - Awarded Summer Internship Scholarship by the University of Auckland
2020 - Invited by University of Auckland to apply for Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University
Skills
Guitar, Piano, Bassoon
Driver’s License - Full
Driver’s License - Full
Showreel
Stand-up Showreel