Video will play in Play now Don't auto playNever auto playHe's shown the world who we are, and now filmmaker Taika Waititi has been named the 2017 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. Related Content Waititi and Wilderpeople win big at movie awards Taika Waititi to direct Bubbles, a movie about Michael Jackson's pet chimp Video Watch: Taika Waiti NZer of the YearChief judge Cameron Bennett said Waititi was an "exciting and inspiring example of who and what we are as Kiwis". "Creative, courageous, audacious, subversive and downright funny, he's at theforefront of New Zealand filmmaking and the arts. Waititi said tonight that he made his own films for Kiwis, but it was a nice surprise when they won a wider audience. "I make my films mainly for New Zealanders, that's who I think about first when I try to make my films.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 22, 2017 09:48 UTC