Pio Terei
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pio Terei (born 1958) is a Māori actor, singer and comedian on New Zealand TV. A former Auckland Toyota car salesman, he came to notice in 1995 when he headlined his own TV3 show Pete and Pio with fellow comedian Peter Rowley. After the success of Pete and Pio, Terei led his own show called Pio!, featuring similar skits to his previous programme. It ran from 1997 to 1999 and it was during this period that he hosted the Coca Cola Christmas in the Park in front of thousands of people. When Pio! was cancelled in 1999, Terei moved to the opposition TVNZ network.
In 2000, Terei led a TVNZ programme entitled The Life and Times of Te Tutu, a comedy following the daily life of an 1800s Māori chief. Under his own Pipi Productions company, The Life and Times of Te Tutu played weekly until cancelled in 2001, when Terei ceased work under Pipi Productions.
Terei was not a headline act or primetime actor in the early years of the new century. Though his name was well known in New Zealand (especially in the Māori community), it seemed his work was never broadcast on TVNZ.
His comeback was with the TV ONE series Intrepid Journeys - a travel show where each week a New Zealand celebrity would travel to a different destination. Terei, who hosted Intrepid Journeys: India, was praised for his comical yet informative segment which followed him across India, in a 90-minute special.
After that appearance, Terei wrote pieces for his new production company 4 Winds Studios which were contributed to the New Zealand dramas Mataku and Spin Doctors. In 2003 he was granted his own show again, entitled Big Saturday Night In. It featured New Zealand musicians from current and past years performing special acts - sometimes accompanied by Terei who is a talented musician.
Terei and his 4 Winds Studios company contribute work to the Māori Channel. He hosts his own fishing show on the channel and is spokesperson for the New Zealand Coastguard. He is also the Parenting New Zealand spokesperson. He resides with his wife and three children in Auckland, New Zealand.
Terei, his wife Debbie and three children currently star in a New Zealand travel show entitled Are We There Yet? on TV ONE.
In his spare time, Terei is a known fishing enthusiast and musician. He frequently hosts corporate functions around New Zealand and is extremely popular as emcee. In interviews he has mentioned having a significant interest in New Zealand parenting values. He also has an interest in vintage cars and currently owns a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
