Poroaki Merritt-McDonald is a New Zealand actor represented by TMH Management and CSM Management (Australia). Of Māori heritage, he is recognised for his work across feature films, television and international productions, with credits including Muru, Savage, Kairākau, The Gone and Big Girls Don't Cry.

Poroaki first gained industry recognition for his performance in My Brother Mitchell, launching a career that has seen him work on some of New Zealand's most acclaimed screen productions. His performances in Muru and Savage established him as one of the country's most exciting young actors, while The Gone introduced his work to international audiences through Acorn TV and Prime Video.

His performance in Big Girls Don't Cry has also received critical praise:

"Poroaki Merritt-McDonald is perfectly cast... I liked Merritt-McDonald's extremely on-point and vulnerable performance..." — Film-Book.com

Beyond acting, Poroaki served as the New Zealand Youth Ambassador for FestPAC 2024, championing indigenous storytelling and Pacific representation.

As his body of work continues to grow across New Zealand and international productions, Poroaki is establishing himself as one of the country's leading young screen actors.

Representation

• TMH Management (New Zealand)
• CSM Management (Australia)