Suli Moa

Born on December 31, 1986, is the second eldest of three children. His father was a factor worker, from the village of Fahefa (Tongatapu) and his mother was a dishwasher, from the village of Fangale'ounga (Ha'apai) in Tonga. Moa and his family grew up Glen Innes, East Auckland, then moved to New Lynn where he began schooling at New Lynn Primary School in West Auckland, in 1991. He then attended Avondale intermediate and finished his secondary schooling at Saint Kentigern College on a scholarship.[8]

In 2007 Moa trained at Toi Whakaari in Wellington, and graduated with a BA in performing arts (Acting) in 2009.[9] He furthered his studies at The University of Auckland, where he completed a Diploma in Teaching Secondary Drama & Dance in 2011. Since graduating, Moa has taught multiple secondary schools in Auckland as a Drama and English teacher at Marcellin College and Westlake Girls High School.[10] He also was the lecturer at that same year, Moa wrote, acted and staged the first Tongan play in New Zealand, Kingdom of Lote, at Mangere Arts Centre.[11][12][13][14] The Matala Festival, was established in 2012 by Moa and Sesilia Pusiaki (actor and choreographer) to platform and amplify the stories of the Tongan community through a theatre, visual arts and poetry.[15][16] In the same year, Moa and his wife Natalie Moa established their own theatre company, Tales From the Kava Bowl (TFTKB) where their first play written by Moa, A Hearts Path, was staged as part of the Matala Festival at Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland.[17] The Matala Festival also included a performance from renowned poet Dr. Karlo Mila (MNZM).[18] For his contributions towards Tongan theatre in New Zealand, he was awarded the Emerging Artist award from Creative New Zealand.[19][20] In 2016, Moa received his first Adam NZ Play Award for his piece 12th Round, produced by TFTKB at Circa Theatre, Wellington.[21]

In 2018, had been awarded Best Play by Pasifika Playwright for his play Tales of A Princess,[22] a story highlighting the 2009 tragedy of the ship Princess Ashika. This show toured around the Tongan church communities within Auckland.[23] In 2020 Moa premiered his most recent theatre piece, BURNING OPINION at the Auckland Fringe Festival, based on the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots.[24][25] The show went on to win Best Ensemble and PAANZ ready to tour at the Fringe awards.[26]