Julian Dennison

Place of Birth: Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 16 October, 2002

Ethnicity: Māori, English, some Scottish

Julian Dennison is a Māori actor from New Zealand. He has had major roles in the films Shopping (2013), Paper Planes, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Deadpool 2, The Christmas Chronicles 2, and Godzilla vs. Kong, and in voice over role, on the show The Strange Chores.

Through his Māori lineage, he is a member of the iwi Ngāti Hāua and the waka Tainui.

On his mother’s side, he is a distant relative of screenwriter Riwia Brown, who wrote the film Once Were Warriors (1994), about a Māori family.

Julian’s paternal grandfather was Graeme Robert Dennison (the son of Harold Fredrick Dennison and Phyllis Edna Dowthwaite). Harold was the son of Thomas Marston Dennison, who was from Birmingham, England, and of Ellen Matilda “Nell” Kendrick, whose parents were from London, England.

Julian’s paternal grandmother was named Jacqueline.

Julian’s maternal grandfather is playwright Bruce Richard Stewart (the son of Pare Hinetai Hirini, or Molly Daphne Hirini). Bruce’s father was European. Molly was Māori, from the Tainui tribe and lived in Rotorua. She was the daughter of Timi Hirini and Pare Waaka (aka Dolly/Polly Walker). Pare Waaka’s parents were George Walker (aka Hori Waaka) and Panatita Te Awanui. George was born in Inverness, Scotland. He came over to New Zealand on the Lord William Bentinck.

Julian’s maternal grandmother is named Orapai Hamiora. Orapai is Māori.

Source: Article about Julian’s maternal grandfather, Bruce Richard Stewart –