About Vela Manusaute
Born 1901. Vela Manusaute was a New Zealand film director and playwright.
Vela Manusaute is a Niuean writer and director. He is the creator and writer of New Zealand's first bilingual English-Tongan television series, Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a.
Background Vela is part Niuean and part Samoan; he was born in Niue and lived in his village Mutalau before his family moved to New Zealand in 1979. He graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1995 with a Diploma in Acting, and was their first Niuean to graduate. In 2002 he founded the theatre and music group Kila Kokonut Krew.
With Anapela Polataivao he received the New Generation Award for theatre at the 2014 Arts Foundation Awards.
In 2020 he won the Best Screenplay and Best Art Directions awards for his short film The Messiah at the Pacific Rims Film Festival 2020.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Vela Manusaute?
New Zealand film director
When was Vela Manusaute born?
Vela Manusaute was born in 1901 in Niue.
What was Vela Manusaute's occupation?
Vela Manusaute was a film director and playwright.
What nationality was Vela Manusaute?
Vela Manusaute was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Vela Manusaute. https://biography.guide/vela-manusaute/
MLA: "Vela Manusaute." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/vela-manusaute/.
Chicago: "Vela Manusaute." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/vela-manusaute/.
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