Tanya Muagututi'a MNZM is a New Zealand playwright and arts festival director.[1][2]

Tanya Muagututi'a (right) with long time collaborator Erolia Ifopo in 1994

Biography edit

Muagututi'a's father, Muagututi'a Pulusila Meafou Sagapolutele, was Samoan and moved to New Zealand in the early 1950s, aged 11, to attend school.[1]

She co-founded Pacific Underground, a performing arts organisation for Pacific artists, in Christchurch in 1993.[3][4]

In 2020, Muagututi'a won Best Play by Pasifika Playwright at the Adam New Zealand Play Awards for her script Scholars, which is based on her father's experiences as a Samoan scholarship student in New Zealand.[1]

Recognition edit

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Muagututi'a was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Pacific performing arts.[5]

Personal life edit

Muagututi'a is married to Posenai Mavaega, who co-founded Pacific Underground with her.[4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Pasifika playwright winner in Adam NZ Play Awards 2020". RNZ. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Tanya Muagututi'a". The Court Theatre. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Tanya Muagututi'a". FREE THEATRE CHRISTCHURCH. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Pacific Underground". RNZ. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Queen's Birthday honours: Pacific recognised". RNZ News. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.