Don Selwyn

Don Charles Selwyn ONZM (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 The Merchant of Venice, the first Māori language feature film with English subtitles.[1]

Don Selwyn

ONZM
Born
Don Charles Selwyn

(1935-11-22)22 November 1935
Taumarunui, New Zealand
Died13 April 2007(2007-04-13) (aged 71)
Auckland, New Zealand
OccupationActor, filmmaker

Life

Born of Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri descent, Selwyn grew up in Taumarunui and began his professional life as a teacher. He appeared in an episode of Ngaio Marsh Theatre in 1977. In 1984 he began a film and television training course for Māori and Pacific Islanders. In 1992 he co-founded He Taonga Films. In 2003 at the New Zealand Film Awards Selwyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award.[2] In 2007 the Arts Foundation of New Zealand selected him for an Icon Award, which was awarded to him privately shortly before he died.[3]

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.[4]

Selected filmography

References
  1. "Veteran Māori film-maker and actor Don Selwyn dies". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  2. Forster, Tony (27 March 2014). "Don Selwyn honoured again". SCREENZ. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. "Don Selwyn | Arts Foundation Icon". Arts Foundation. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. "New Year honours list 1999". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1998. Retrieved 31 August 2019.


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