Three tamaita'i finalists named in the NZ TV Personality of the Year Awards

Among the 10 finalists in the running to be the 2024 New Zealand Television Personality of the Year - three of them are fine fafine Pasifika.

They are the bodacious Bella Kalolo-Suraj (Sāmoa, Tonga, Ngāti Porou), the tenacious Turia Schmidt-Peke (Faga, Safotu - Savai'i, Sāmoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Hauā), and the boisterous Bubbah Leo’o Olo (Utuali’i, Falelima - Sāmoa).

Between the three of them, they possess a repertoire of award-winning material that has warmed homes, halls, and hearts.

In a Facebook post, Kalolo-Suraj expressed how the nomination has her feeling “flippen grateful and thankful”.

“Shocked, stoked, wanna cry, wanna laugh.

“Never in a million years would I ever think that anything like this would happen to me - I know it's just a nomination, but it's big for me lol,” she says.

“This makes me believe that at whatever age you are, if you have a burning desire to take up something you've been longing to do, then do it.”

Recent years of her career have seen Kalolo-Suraj switch from a full-time music gig to acting. From her role as To’aga in the theatre show, Dawn Raids, to voicing Bulda in Frozen Te Reo Māori.

From a small role in Sione’s Wedding (and the Duckrockers spinoff series) to joining the cast of the prime-time soap opera, Shortland Street, the latter has garnered her the award nomination.

As “Nature” in the Meridian Electricity TV commercials, she is quite literally a force to be reckoned with.

“Thank you to my Shortland St fam for the biggest training ground an actor could ever get,” she says in her post.

“Fa'afetai tele lava, Ngā mihi nui, Thank you soooo much everyone that has ever helped me and loved me along the way. I'm soooo super grateful for all of you!!!"

Schmidt-Peke is the realisation of her tūpuna Māori, and as a raukura (graduate) of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi, she grew up totally immersed in Māori culture.

That laid the foundation for her Māori media career where after gaining a bachelor of both arts and communications from the University of Waikato, she took on a production-coordinator role at Whakaata Māori and Cinco Cine Film Productions.

In 2018, Schmidt-Peke stepped out from behind the scenes and was cast as the fiery protagonist, Geo, from the bilingual drama series Ahikāroa. Six seasons strong, the role won her the Best Actress Award at the 2021 NZ Web Fest.

Schmidt-Peke is another New Zealand actor who cut her teeth through the staple drama Shortland Street and in 2023 she was a top-three finalist on Celebrity Treasure Island.

Her life’s purpose revolves around advocacy for kaupapa Māori in all forms and spaces and is a frequent guest on the te reo Māori review show and podcast REOviews.

With her enthusiastic laugh and sharp wit, Bubbah or Sieni Leo’o Olo has captivated audiences as the famed “Tina from Turners”.

But beyond the TV ad, people got to see the heart behind the comedian as Bubbah charmed her way to the top four contestants of Celebrity Treasure Island this year.

She’s shown her versatility, having also appeared on comedy TV shows such as Duckrockers, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont's Spelling Bee, Double Parked, and season four of Taskmasters NZ.

Some might argue that she is exactly the type of personality deserving of a TV award, and it’s through the short-form comedy series I Got You, screening on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram reels, that she receives her nomination.

Created by the screen production company Cadness Street and supported by NZ On-Air, the show centres around Bubbah’s character, Mac, who starts a dating advisory side hustle despite having no dating experience.

And in true Bubbah fashion, she delivers ill-advised unapologetic humour through a massive grin.

The New Zealand Television Personality of the Year winner is decided by the public and will be announced on Friday, 22 November so who will get your vote?

Voting is open now - cast your vote here.