Loud Shirt Day ambassador Apii Pukeiti is no stranger to the limelight.
Two years ago, he made his acting debut in the Netflix series, Sweet Tooth, the story of a boy who’s half human and half deer, and who survives in a post-apocalyptic world with other hybrids.
Ten-year-old Apii played a porcupine hybrid who uses sign language to communicate and featured in all eight episodes of Season 2. Last year, he and the other ‘hybrid kids’ then made a cameo appearance in the final episode of Season 3, and the close of the show.
Apii was born with X-linked stapes gusher syndrome which resulted in a profound hearing loss.
He was unable to access sounds with hearing aids, and was fitted with cochlear implants in both ears by the time he was two years old. He has been supported by The Hearing House throughout his journey.
Mum Tofi says his vocals and speech were extended considerably as a result of his acting debut.
“Apii absolutely loved the experience of being on set,” she says. “He really rose to it, and was a real hit at the studio.”
Performing gives Apii a real buzz
Performance obviously runs in his blood, as the Ormiston Primary School student has now turned his focus full-time to the drums, and recently sat his Grade 4 Trinity College exams in drumming.
The word on the street is that he performed well in his exam pieces, which are graded on technical work, sight reading, aural, improvisation and musical knowledge.
Results are due out at the end of October, so we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for you, Apii!
Apii has been under the care of The Hearing House team for the past nine years, and Tofi says their support and encouragement has helped give him the confidence to embrace his passion for performance.
“Performing gives Apii a real buzz,” she says. “It’s who he is – a born performer who just happens to have cochlear implants. He’s really rocking it!”.
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