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JP’s journey to Celebrity Treasure Island

The actor reveals the anxiety attack that led to a dramatic career change
JP Foliaki on Celebrity Treasure Island

In the past four years Red, White & Brass actor JP Foliaki has made the final 12 of Popstars, starred in two hit local dramas, opened for US rapper Sean Kingston and released his own self-funded R&B music.

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He’s come a long way since working as a junior management consultant for accounting firm PWC in 2019 and the proud South Aucklander, 30, can hardly believe it himself.

When he sits down to chat with Woman’s Day on the remote coastline of the Coromandel where they’re shooting Celebrity Treasure Island, he marvels, “The last time I was on a beach for filming, it was for Far North in Ahipara. It’s wild to think that I got to work with legends like Robyn Malcolm and Temuera Morrison!”

Posing with Tāmati Coffey and Bubbah on Celebrity Treasure Island
Hanging tough on CTI with Tāmati Coffey and Bubbah.

He’s also blown away by his fellow cast members on CTI. “I definitely don’t consider myself famous. I feel very honoured to be here with the likes of Christian Cullen and Suzanne Paul. They’re people I’ve grown up watching.”

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JP originally intended to follow in his solicitor father’s footsteps, completing a law degree at the University of Auckland. He took on a lucrative job after graduating but didn’t feel like he was achieving what he set out to.

“I guess I really don’t care about improving some bank team’s culture,” he says with a wry smile. “I was analysing corporate teams and culture, so it wasn’t working in legal justice and it definitely wasn’t grassroots. The corporate thing wasn’t really my buzz. I wanted to do law to give back to my community.”

JP talking to Suzanne Paul on Celebrity Treasure Island
“Honoured”: JP hangs with Suzanne Paul.

Desperately unhappy, JP’s mental health deteriorated. He spent his weekends drinking heavily, finally quitting his job after suffering an anxiety attack in his office.

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“I spoke to people I trusted at work and they were like, ‘Just think about what your goals are and where you want to be in the next five years. If it’s not in this area, it’s probably an indication of where you need to be.’ I handed in my resignation to them within the week.”

JP’s family moved from Tonga to Auckland in the 1970s. They are lawyers, accountants, nurses, doctors and academics. He admits they gave him “the side-eye” when he quit his job. “But they could see how unhappy I was, so when the moment came for me to leave, they fully supported me.”

He put his skills to use working at Le Va, a support agency for Pasifika families, then he took a leap of faith, signing up for Popstars in 2021.

Battling James Rolleston on a water raft with Millen approaching behind
All at sea: Rocking the boat with Millen Baird and James Rolleston.
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“I’m passionate about music and I saw an opportunity,” shares JP. “People have their preconceptions about reality TV, but doing it led to me getting an Auckland Transport ad. That then led to me being an extra on The Panthers.”

There, the producer of the Kiwi box-office hit Red, White & Brass offered him an audition for the lead role in the film about a Tongan rugby superfan who sets up a brass band in order to secure tickets for the 2011 France v Tonga World Cup match.

One of the most surreal moments of JP’s life was attending the Hollywood premiere of the movie, where he ran into executive producer Taika Waititi. He laughs, “I didn’t know how to approach him, so I was like, ‘How’s Rita [Ora]?’ It just came out of my mouth. He said, ‘She’s good. She’s not here, but her mum and sister are.’ Then he congratulated me on the film. I was thinking, ‘Great. Please remember me, sir!’”

JP leading the band in Red, White & Brass
Band leader: In Red, White & Brass.
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Even though he doesn’t consider himself a celebrity, JP is adjusting to being recognised for his recent acting work. “It’s really weird being asked for photos when I’m out having lunch with my grandma or being filmed when I’m just out having fun with my friends in town. There have been a lot of people sliding into my DMs!”

Speaking of romance, JP jokes that Celebrity Treasure Island could be the one to change his life. “Imagine if I found love!” he laughs. “This could be my Love Island!”

Celebrity Treasure Island screens from Mondays to Wednesdays at 7.30pm on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.

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