After public nominations, entertainer Oscar Kightley will be inducted into Waitakere’s “Walk of Fame”, located outside the Civic Centre in Henderson Valley Road, Henderson.
Oscar Kightley was born in Samoa and emigrated to New Zealand with his mother when he was four years old. Following a cadetship at the Auckland Star, Oscar moved into working in radio and television starting behind the scenes.
A 2006 Laureate Award winner and Qantas Award winning journalist, Oscar also co-founded Pacific Underground and the Island Players theatre company which has produced critically acclaimed work. Oscar won the Bruce Mason’s playwrights’ award in 1998 and has worked as a performer and writer for a number of television shows including Skits, Telly Laughs, The Panel, Sportzah and TV3’s rugby coverage. His plays include A Frigate Bird Sings which he co-wrote with fellow naked Samoan, Dave Fane, Dawn Raids, Island Girls, and Niu Sila co-written with Dave Armstrong. Oscar also co-wrote and took a lead role in the highly successful movie Sione’s Wedding, which was released in 2006 in Australia and New Zealand.
Oscar is also one of the Naked Samoans, who’ve taken their anarchic brand of comedy around the country and even to Scotland. Oscar is currently working with the Naked Samoans and Firehorse Films on the fourth series of bro’Town.
Also to enter the Walk of Fame alongside Oscar is world motor sport champion Paul Radisich and international fashion designer Karen Walker. Their hand and footprints will be etched on granite slabs and placed into the walkway in a ceremony on June 7th, 11am.
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says they are “typical westies”.
“They are strong, talented and committed people who are true role models for young people,” he says.
It is the sixth year that “iconic westies” have been included in the walkway. The latest inductees join the likes of sports people Beatrice Faumuina, Michael Jones and Roy Williams. Also in the walkway are the likes of musician Neil Finn, Chief Justice Sian Elias and author Maurice Shadbolt.
Source: Waitakere City Council
