Rima Te Wiata
A versatile New Zealand performer whose rich voice and sharp comedic timing have enlivened stages and screens for over five decades.
Born 1963 (age 63)·New Zealand singer, comedian and actress·Birthday: October 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rima Te Wiata emerged from a formidable artistic lineage in New Zealand, her talent evident from a young age. She honed her craft in theatre, establishing herself as a powerhouse singer and a deft comedian capable of both heartfelt drama and razor-sharp wit. While she became a familiar face to Australian audiences through her long-running stint on 'Sons and Daughters,' her career refused to be pigeonholed. Te Wiata moved seamlessly between mediums, from commanding roles in major musical productions to scene-stealing appearances in films like 'Housebound' and lending her distinctive voice to animated characters. Her work embodies a uniquely Antipodean spirit—grounded, generous, and endlessly adaptable.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rima was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rima Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Rima's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Janice Reid in over 200 episodes of the popular Australian soap opera 'Sons and Daughters.'
- Received critical praise for her performance as Gloria in the 2014 New Zealand horror-comedy film 'Housebound.'
- Has had a significant career in musical theatre, performing in productions such as 'Chicago' and 'Mamma Mia!' in New Zealand.
- Provided the voice for multiple characters in the beloved New Zealand children's show 'The Adventures of Massey Ferguson.'
Did You Know?
She is the daughter of acclaimed New Zealand opera singer Inia Te Wiata.
She performed the New Zealand national anthem at the opening of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
She voiced the character of 'Mum' in the Oscar-nominated animated short 'Two Cars, One Night.'
“I'm a singer first, but comedy is just a sideways step from the truth.”
