Our Distinguished Alumna is recognised among New Zealand's leading artists.

We are proud to celebrate the success of Onehunga High School alumna Madeleine Sami, who has been named a 2026 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate, one of New Zealand's most prestigious honours for artists. The award recognises her outstanding contribution to New Zealand film and television. The Laureate Awards celebrate established artists who have made a significant contribution to the arts. Each recipient receives $50,000 in recognition of their achievements and to support their future creative work.

A former OHS student from 1993 to 1997, Madeleine was also recognised as an OHS Distinguished Alumna in 2016 for her achievements in the entertainment industry. Her professional acting career began at just 18 years old with a theatrical debut in the hit play Bare, where her talent for comedy and character work quickly attracted attention.

Since then, she has built an impressive career as an actor, writer and director. Her film credits include Sione's Wedding, Eagle vs Shark and What We Do in the Shadows, while her international television work includes Our Flag Means Death and Deadloch. She also created the television comedy Super City and co-wrote, co-directed and starred in The Breaker Upperers, which reached international audiences through Netflix.

It is particularly special for OHS to see one of our Distinguished Alumni continue to receive recognition at this level. Her achievements are a wonderful example of where a career in the performing arts can lead. Congratulations, Madeleine! We are very proud of your achievements.

Read more about her career on the Arts Foundation website and visit our OHS Distinguished Alumni page.