Find your crew

Ngā Aho Whakaari empowers, promotes and advocates for Māori voices and stories within the Aotearoa New Zealand screen industry.

← Back to member directory
Leigh Minarapa
Ngā Aho Whakaari member

Leigh Minarapa

Auckland

About me

I graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2013 with a degree in film, beginning my career as a Production Assistant and Production Manager. Over the years, I’ve taken on a variety of roles, including researcher, locations, assistant directing, and script supervision, contributing to web series, short films, music videos, documentaries, and feature films for Māori Television, the New Zealand Film Commission, TVNZ, Te Māngai Pāho, and more.

In 2023 I earned a Master’s in Screenwriting with First Class Honours from AUT, and in 2024 I completed a diploma in te reo Māori fluency at Te Wānanga Takiura. My goals for the future are to continue working in the industry while also focusing on my writing and directing.

Proficiencies & skills

Researcher

Researcher

Production

Production

Writer

Writer

Director

Qualifications

Masters of Screenwriting at Auckland University of TechnologyBachelors of Arts, majoring in Film

Māori language fluency

Te Wānanga Takiura O Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori O Aotearoa 2024

Featured work

Shades of Blue and Green

Writer and Director