Award-winning James Nokise on comedy, culture, and connection

"I'm just tired... it's humbling. It is a massive prize."

That is how comedian, playwright, columnist, podcaster, theatre maker, and social commentator James Nokise reacts to winning the 2024 Topp Prize.

The Topp Prize, presented annually by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, honours individuals whose work pushes boundaries and inspires.

Nokise shares with Pacific Mornings host William Terite that, since he’s been working overseas for some time, he is looking forward to catching up with friends and family back in Aotearoa.

“It's beautiful to be talking to you and all the PMN listeners on 531pi - I'm sure a few of them are just going, ‘the sports guy?’” quips Nokise.

“It's actually quite good to win a big award because then I just catch up with my boys back in Lower Hutt in Wellington, and they're still going, ‘OhHe is known, you think you're funny?’

“I come back next year to receive it in person and maybe meet the Topp Twins as well. I think I'll allow myself to enjoy it then.”

The award comes with a $15,000 cash grant, but that’ll disappear quickly, Nokise says.

“I'm stoked to win $15,000.

“Taxman's going to take three of that and then Air New Zealand will probably take the rest, having to fly home to get the award.”

Making politics fun-ny

Known for his fearless approach and ability to give a voice to underrepresented communities, Nokise says all that, mixed with humour, stems from his family.

“I've always told everyone, no matter what they see on stage, I'm not the funniest person in my family - most comedians aren't.

"I grew up in the Newtown PIC community and all the aunties and uncles in the church hall just making jokes about each other.

“My old man is a storyteller, he's a minister and my mother works as a librarian, and she comes from the United Kingdom.”

Growing up with a lot of laughter in the house, Nokise adds he has always wanted to make others laugh.

He discusses the roots of his sharp political wit, which he attributes to growing up in Wellington’s politically active environment.

James Nokise interviewed Tonga's first female Olympic boxer, Fe’ofa'aki Epenisa, while covering the games for PMN.

Nokise aims to demystify politics and make it accessible to younger generations.

“If you grow up in it, you realise they're just people, like, you're related to half these guys.

“A lot of them are very average, some of them very below average people doing their best.”

The year that was

With all the hats Nokise wears, it is no wonder he feels fatigued. He says he is focused on making it to Christmas.

That’s not to water down any of his achievements, especially since this year has been a whirlwind for Nokise.

He notes massive international projects such as the Faovale Imperium tour in the UK, the Olympic sports coverage done in partnership with PMN, and The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior - a first-time podcast collaboration between RNZ and ABC.

“That took me to the Marshall Islands, telling Micronesian stories, Pacific nuclear stories, all these little things that have come together.

“Those are just like the front things, there's things I do behind the scenes, which have also been very fulfilling.

“And you know, it's tiring, but you don't do it to win awards. You do it because it brings you a lot of joy. I'd love to tell you, you do it because it pays well, but it pays what it pays.”

Looking ahead

Nokise plans to continue focusing on Pacific storytelling through podcasts, directing projects, and sports coverage, emphasising his commitment to uplifting Pacific stories and using his platform for meaningful work.

"This particular period of my career is very much about Pacific storytelling... facilitating getting those stories to audiences.

“If it's more of that next year, no complaints from me.”

As for his immediate holiday plans, Nokise says he’s hopping out of the fast lane and slowing things down.

“I will be so unconscious - I have no great vacation plans. I'm going to be on a couch with a book. We hustle about so much, we work so much.

“I think sometimes we forget there's a real joy to be had in just having a real long kōrero and with people not about work, not about anything massively important, just a catch-up.”