Don Selwyn

Don Charles Selwyn (22 November 1935 – 13 April 2007) was a Māori actor and filmmaker from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Māori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film Te tangata whai rawa o Weneti (The Maori Merchant of Venice), the first Māori language feature film with English subtitles.

Life Born of Ngāti Kurī, Ngati Hine, Te Rarawa,Te Aupōuri, Ngai Takoto and Ngati Awa descent, Selwyn grew up in Taumarunui and began his professional life as a teacher.

In 1967, Selwyn acted in The Golden Lover at Downstage Theatre directed by Richard Campion alongside Wi Kuki Kaa and Bob Hirini. Also on stage produced by Downstage Theatre and directed by Campion and designed by Raymond Boyce, Selwyn was in Othello with a cast of 17 including Peter Vere-Jones and Elric Hooper in 1976. It was so popular it transferred to the Opera House. It had been translated from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice by Pei Te Hurinui Jones in 1945. The film was produced to upskill Māori in the film industry.

In the 1999 New Year Honours, Selwyn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre, film and television. He was conferred an honorary DLit degree by Massey University in 2002. In 2003, at the New Zealand Film Awards, Selwyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award. In 2007, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand selected him for an Icon Award, which was awarded to him privately shortly before he died.

Selected filmography Rangi's Catch (1973) as Mr. Rukuhia Big Brother, Little Sister (1976) as Pera Sleeping Dogs (1977) as Taupiri Came a Hot Friday (1985) as Norm My Letter to George (1986) as Joseph The Last Tattoo (1994) as Bill Davin Te tangata whai rawa o Weneti (The Maori Merchant of Venice) (2002) - director