James Rolleston

Place of Birth: Opotiki, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 8 June, 1997

Ethnicity: Māori, English, Scottish, 1/64th Spanish, possibly other

James Rolleston is a New Zealand actor. He is known for starring in the films Boy (2010), as ‘Boy,’ The Dark Horse, The Dead Lands, The Rehearsal, Pork Pie, The Breaker Upperers, and Whina.

James is the son of Angeline Rolleston. He has never met his biological father and does not know his name. He has two half-brothers who have a Tongan father. James is of Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Te Rangi, and Ngāti Ranginui.

James’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Te-ika-kino-atu Edgar “Joe” Rolleston (the son of Matahou/Matahau Rolleston and Te Whairiwhi Maringiwai Tarapuhi Wikeepa). Matahou was the son of Rolleston Roretana Te Kereti and Rangitutaki Te Mete Smith. Rangitutaki was of three quarters Māori descent. Her grandfathers were a trader from Scotland and chief Kereti of Ngāi Te Rangi.

James’s maternal grandmother is Christina Edwards (the daughter of Joseph Robert “Joe” Edwards and Ema Te Nohomokemoke Collier). Joseph was the son of Te Paku Ponaho Edwards, of Ngāti Muriwai, and of Mere Akiwa Paroro/Pararoa Livingstone, whose father was from Kinross, Scotland and whose mother was Māori. Ema was the daughter of Hamiora Ngairo (Sam/Hāmi) Collier, who was of English and Māori descent, and of Ema Te Reremoana McLeod, whose father was a geologist and whose mother’s ancestry was from Valverde del Majano in Spain, and Māori.

Sources: Genealogy of James Rolleston – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Rangitutaki Rolleston – https://www.geni.com

Biography of James’ ancestor Te Mate Raukawa – https://teara.govt.nz

Genealogy of James’ maternal great-grandmother, Ema Te Nohomokemoke Collier – https://ancestors.familysearch.org

Genealogy of the Collier and Edwards families – http://freepages.rootsweb.com

Article that mentions James’ grandparents’ names – https://www.nzherald.co.nz

comrade

interested in whakapapa (on hiatus)

1 Response

  1. andrew says:

    maybe his dad was Tongan too, he looks it.

    a “possibly other” I’d add.

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