Stage presence:

Maori TV’s new reality series.

Actor and high school teacher Kimo Houltham (above) hosts Maori TV reality show He tells Sarah Nealon about his television experience so far.

imo Houltham had his start in television presenting thanks to a competition.

The host of Maori TV’s reality series was 16 years old and giving a speech at a high school competition when he caught the eye of a television producer in the audience.

“He came up to me and asked if I wanted to audition for a show on Maori Television that was called

says Kimo, whose presenting background also includes a stint on youth lifestyle show

Now 28 years old, Kimo, who teaches maths, Spanish and drama at a Rotorua high school, is enjoying fronting

a reality talent show where various dance crews incorporate haka into a performance for the chance to win $50,000.

“It’s great seeing all the styles of dance whether it’s hip hop, salsa, contemporary and just seeing a bit of haka flair in it,” he says.

“What I really like about it, is

that they are not just doing hip hop and then a haka. They are actually trying to fuse the two together, making it one seamless dance.”

Kimo says the ages of participants range from about 11 years old to those in their mid-30s.

Haka is something Kimo, who grew up in Rotorua with Maori as his first language, knows a fair bit about.

“My first job was doing kapa haka for tourists when I was 13,” he says.

“So I think, for me, performance has come naturally. I don’t shirk away from the limelight as some would say.”

Besides presenting gigs, Kimo, who has a nine-year-old daughter and a son aged three, has also dipped his toes into acting.

He has starred in playing the gay best friend of the lead character and he has also appeared in

“I love acting,” says Kimo. “I tell people that TV feeds my kids but theatre feeds my soul.”