# Jay Tewake

Jay Tewake (born 25 February 1990 Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his work on the short film GURL and the reality TV mini series Queens of Panguru.

## Music

Tewake has also done notable work in Music with producing acts including Mika Haka, JGeek and the Geeks, Bare Feet Street and many more. In 2011, Jay Tewake performed at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Music Event Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras. It was televised on Māori Television. He performed He Hoi alongside his back up dancers GlamBoyz & Ka 400.

## Health

Tewake was featured on Māori Television multiple times in a TV series called KA TV and KA Life. The shows were family shows promoting Health, fitness, well-being with dance, healthy eating and exercise. The TV series went on to become a free school holiday program to teach kids to dance. They also did a couple of publicity stunts with flash mobs. They got to join the 2011 Rugby World Cup Music Event Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras and the 2011 Kiwi Day Out.

## The Queens of Panguru

In 2017, Jay Tewake starred in the reality TV Series The Queens of Panguru alongside Ramon Te Wake and Maihi Makiha. The five episode short series is about three well known people from the LGBT community who live in the big city of Auckland, return home to their roots. The TV series was televised on Māori Television.

## GURL

In 2020, Tewake starred the lead role in the short film GURL. The film was a prequel of the biopic "The Book of Carmen" which is currently in pre-production. The film is based on the life of Carmen Rupe. Tewake also sang on the film's soundtrack. Winner for Best Actor in Medium Length Film at Brazil International Film Festival.

## Personal life

On the show Queens of Panguru, Tewake describes himself as a "young gay glamboy". He is the descendant of Heremia Te Wake who was a notable tribe leader, who is the father of respected kuia (Māori elder), Dame Whina Cooper.

## Discography
### Single

| Year | Title | Album |
| 2018 | Higher (With Eli Globe & Richie Cattell) | Still Stuck |
| 2020 | What Kind of Coffee Do You Like? (With Jackie Clarke & Brady Peeti) | GURL |

### Albums

| Year | Title | Details |
| 2020 | GURL | Released: 24 July 2020 |

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 2020 | GURL | GURL/Young Carmen | Nominated NZIFF Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award Won NZIFF Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts CineMāori Audience Award |

### Documentary

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 2008 | Mika Haka Kids | Self | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 2011 | KA LIFE | Presenter | |
| 2011 | Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras | Performer | |
| 2013 | Ka TV | Presenter | |
| 2017 | Queens of Panguru | Self | 5 Episodes |

### Music Video

| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
| 2014 | Coffee | Mika Haka feat Lavina Williams | Zombie |
| 2020 | What Kind of Coffee Do You Like | Featuring Brady Peeti, Jackie Clarke and Jay Tewake | Carmen |

### Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| NZIFF | August 2, 2020 | Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award | Mika X | Nominated |
| NZIFF | August 2, 2020 | Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts CineMāori Audience Award | Mika X | Won |
| Wairoa Māori Film Festival | October 25, 2020 | Whenua Jury - Best Māori Director (Short Film) | Mika X | Won |
| Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (FILMS OF THE MONTH – JAN-FEB 2021) | March 17, 2021 | Best LGBT | Mika X | Won |
| Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (FILMS OF THE MONTH – JAN-FEB 2021) | March 17, 2021 | Outstanding Achievement Award | Mika X | Won |
| Brazil International Monthly Film Festival | September 2021 | Best Actor For Median Length Film | Jay Tewake | Won |