Nina Nawalowalo, of Wellington, ONZM, for services to theatre and Pacific culture
Nina Nawalowalo co-founded Pasifika theatre company the Conch, where she continues as Artistic Director. Her first play, ‘Vula’, premiered at Wellington’s Bats Theatre and went on to tour nationally and internationally for seven years. The New Zealand International Arts Festival commissioned her play ‘Masi’, which toured to the Sydney International Festival and was the first major international work to tour to Fiji. Her recent work includes ‘The White Guitar’, which has toured domestically for two years with sold-out seasons. She devised the recent productions ‘Marama’ and ‘The Magicians’. She is a mentor through the Emerging Artists Trust and directed the Conchus Season, a collection of three debut works by young performers. The British Council commissioned Ms Nawalowalo to establish a national women’s theatre company in the Solomon Islands.