Biography
Turia Schmidt-Peke is a New Zealand actress of Māori and Samoan descent. She is affiliated with the iwi Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Hauā and the Samoan villages of Faga and Safotu on Savai'i. Based in Auckland, she began her career in television production and presenting before moving into acting.
Her breakthrough came with the lead role of Geo in the bilingual Māori drama series Ahikāroa (2018–2024). She has since appeared as Steph in Shortland Street: Retribution (2021–2022) and Shortland Street, and played Debs in the series Vince (2025). In 2023 she was a contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island.
Schmidt-Peke made her feature-film debut as Arorangi in the gothic horror Mārama (2025), directed by Taratoa Stappard. She is also known for her kapa haka performances, including multiple appearances at Te Matatini, and was nominated for Best Actress at the 2022 NZ WebFest for her work on Ahikāroa.
