Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley, MNZM

New Zealand Order of Merit

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...

, is a Samoa

Samoa

Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...

n-born actor, television presenter and writer who has been a resident and citizen of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 for most of his life.

Biography

He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film Sione's Wedding

Sione's Wedding

Sione's Wedding , is a 2006 comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.- Plot :...

. He is a member of the comedy group Naked Samoans Talk About Their Knives

Naked Samoans

The Naked Samoans is a famous New Zealand comedy group made up of Polynesian entertainers, most of whom are Samoan. The group is noted for performing social humour and satire that attracts a broad audience, especially among white New Zealanders, without sacrificing the group's Pacific Island identity...

 (also known as simply "Naked Samoans"), who together write the animated series Bro'Town

Bro'Town

bro'Town is a New Zealand Television animated series. The show used a comedy based format, targeted at a young adult audience.The series is set amongst New Zealand's fast growing Pacific Islander community, and focuses on a central cast of five young boys...

. He is also known for his involvement with Sportzah.

Kightley came to New Zealand after the death of his father when he was 4 years old. He was the youngest of eight children. He was adopted by his aunt and uncle, who live in West Auckland. He attended Rutherford College

Rutherford College, Auckland

Rutherford College is a co-educational state secondary school on the Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland, New Zealand.- About :Rutherford College is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited co-educational Year 9-13 State Secondary school, established in 1961. Named after the New Zealand-born...

. This is where he learnt about the different cultures and his experiences during this time form the basis of his writing.

He was a breakfast announcer on Niu FM until January 2007. He has also been on New Zealand Radio National, guest hosting Kim Hill's Saturday Morning show during the New Zealand Summer of 2007-2008. In 2006 he received a Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand

Arts Foundation of New Zealand

A facilitator of private philanthropy, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies and donations help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts....

. He wrote the play Niu Sila with Dave Armstorng. Kightley is currently working on a feature film.

External links