“I come from a country whose idea of masculinity is quite extreme, and ...” — Taika Waititi Quote

I come from a country whose idea of masculinity is quite extreme, and I've grown up around a lot of that energy. I've been part of that a lot. And it's very draining; it's quite tiring trying to be macho.

I've never been a guy who was anal about housework. A typical Wellington flat when I was flatting was a warehouse with, basically, sheets hung up for walls.

When you're on set, you're like, 'Everyone's judging me because I'm the director, and everyone thinks I'm doing this because I just love myself and I want to do everything.' Part of it's true: I do want to do everything, and I do kind of love myself.

I've always found the script to be more of a skeleton, the template.

Seeing The English Patient is wonderfully draining, but imagine acting in it for six months.

It's sometimes draining, but at the same time, you've got to go out there and compete and have fun. Whoever you're with out there, our job as an offense is to go out there and have the same mindset. It's to compete and win.

When you approach the world with such vulnerability and openness, people return that energy. It's draining, but it fills me with a purpose. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I'm really sick of the 'one percent' that is taking all the money from this country, draining the middle class, making it nonexistent.