Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand Presenter Profile

Cultural Luminary & Performance Proponent

With a career spanning over 40 years, Jennifer Ward-Lealand is one of New Zealand’s most respected actors. Trained at Auckland’s influential Theatre Corporate, she has worked extensively across theatre, film, and television, excelling in both dramatic and comedic roles. Jennifer is a fully qualified Intimacy Coordinator (Intimacy on Set, UK) and a member of the SAG-AFTRA Intimacy Coordinator Registry, having worked on over 80 productions across TV drama, comedy, feature films, theatre, and opera. She is also in demand as a tutor of masterclasses for actors. A dedicated industry advocate, Jennifer is President of Equity New Zealand and Patron of Q Theatre, Theatre New Zealand, Te Manu Tīoriori Trust, and Howick Little Theatre. She is a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre, a co-founder of The Large Group and The Actors’ Program, and serves on the trust board of the Actors Benevolent Fund. In 2023, she was appointed to the board of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori – The Māori Language Commission. Recognised for her contributions to the arts, Jennifer was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2007 and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2019. She was also awarded the SPADA Industry Champion, a Woman of Influence Award (Arts & Culture), and was honoured as Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2020. A passionate advocate for te reo Māori, Jennifer has been a dedicated student of the language since 2008. In 2017, she was gifted the name Te Atamira (The Stage) by Sir Tīmoti Kāretu and the late Prof Te Wharehuia Milroy, recognising her commitment to its revitalisation.