Polataivao began acting at the age of eight. She was part of the
Maidment Youth Theatre at the
University of Auckland and graduated from the New Zealand drama school
Toi Whakaari with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2000. In 2002, she formed the theatre group
Kila Kokonut Krew with
Vela Manusaute. Together they created the musical
The Factory which became a web series in 2014. The show toured throughout Australia and had a five-week run at the 2014
Edinburgh Fringe Festival. With
Goretti Chadwick Polataivao created the comedy duo
Pani and Pani. They also created and present the
Māori Television show,
Game of Bros. Polataivao worked as acting tutor at PIPA (
Pacific Institute of Performing Arts) until PIPA closed at the end of 2017 when the BEST Pacific Institute of Education went into liquidation. A theatre play directed by Polataivao,
Wild Dogs Under My Skirt by
Tusiata Avia was re-worked in 2016 from a solo to an ensemble cast creating an award-winning production that went on to be presented at the
New Zealand Festival in 2018, a national New Zealand tour in 2019 and at the
SoHo Playhouse in New York off-Broadway in January 2020. In 2024, she starred in
Tinā as a dissatisfied substitute teacher, recently bereaved after the
2011 Christchurch earthquake, who begins working at an elite private school and starts a student choir.
Filmography Theatre •
Frangipani Perfume by Makerita Urale, director
Rachel House – actor •
Girl on a Corner by
Victor Rodger (2015) – director •
Uma Lava by Victor Rodger (2017) – actor •
Monster in the Maze (2025) - director == Honours and awards ==