John-Paul Foliaki

John-Paul Foliaki, often known as JP, is a New Zealand-born Tongan actor and artist from South Auckland. He has a passion for various creative pursuits, with a particular focus on music and acting. Foliaki gained prominence for his lead role as Maka in the Tongan feature film “Red, White & Brass” (2023), which was inspired by a true story.

In addition to his work in film, Foliaki has been involved in other projects, including the CoconetTV original film “Inky Pinky Ponky,” where he plays the character Mose. He has also appeared in the television series “Far North” (2023).

Before pursuing a career in the arts, Foliaki graduated with a law degree and worked in the legal field. However, he found that this path did not fulfil his creative passions, leading him to transition into acting and music. He was a Project Coordinator at Le Va Pasifika (2020-2022) where he supported the development of Le Va’s youth advisory group, youth wellbeing programmes, and youth strategy.

Foliaki is committed to telling Tongan and Pasifika stories through his work, aiming to inspire others to pursue their passions and embrace their cultural heritage.