Rose Matafeo’s parents are John Matafeo, a Samoan New Zealander, and Diane Vuletich, a Pākehā teacher of Scottish and Croatian heritage. The comedian was born in Auckland on 25 February 1992, which makes her 34 as of September 2026, and she grew up in Ponsonby with two older brothers.
Rose Matafeo quick facts
| Name | Rose Matafeo |
| Born | 25 February 1992 |
| Age | 34 (as of September 2026) |
| Birthplace | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Comedian, writer, actor, TV presenter |
| Parents | John Matafeo and Diane Vuletich |
| Siblings | Two older brothers |
| School | Auckland Girls’ Grammar School (head girl) |
| Partner | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | None publicly known |
Her father, John Matafeo
John Matafeo is Samoan and came to New Zealand as a first-generation immigrant. As a teenager he joined the Polynesian Panthers, the Pasifika activist movement. He later worked in an administrative role at a Rastafarian church.
Her mother, Diane Vuletich
Diane Vuletich is a Pākehā New Zealander of Scottish and Croatian descent and a teacher. In the 2010s she moved to Kampala, Uganda, to teach English. Her move helped push her daughter overseas too: in 2015 Matafeo told the NZ Herald, “if she’s so excited about moving to Uganda, why the hell am I so scared about moving to England?”
A Rastafarian upbringing in Ponsonby
Both of Matafeo’s parents are Rastafarians who met through the Twelve Tribes of Israel denomination, and as a child she went to monthly services at the group’s New Lynn headquarters. Talking to Vice in 2022, she traced the family’s religious mix back a generation: “My dad’s mum was a Seventh-day Adventist; my mum’s family was Catholic.”
She has described her teenage years as a “quite conservative life”, adding that she “was a nerd”. When she started doing comedy at 15, her family were in the audience: “I did my first comedy gig ever, all my family came and watched, we had a gorgeous Japanese meal.”
Brothers and her nan
Matafeo has two older brothers, whose names and careers she has not made public. She is close to her grandmother in Auckland and stayed with her while filming Baby Done. “Every time I go back to New Zealand I live with my Nan, and it is the sweetest thing,” she told NME in 2020, recalling that her nan sent her to set with home baking, including pavlovas and smoked snapper.
Heritage
Through her father Matafeo is Samoan, and through her mother she has Scottish and Croatian ancestry. She went to Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, where she was head girl.
How old is Rose Matafeo?
Matafeo turned 34 on 25 February 2026. She started early: at 15, in 2007, she took part in the New Zealand Comedy Trust’s Class Comedians programme, which is also where she met fellow Taskmaster NZ season seven contestant Rhys Mathewson. Her height has not been published by a reliable source.
Career timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Starts stand-up at 15 through Class Comedians |
| 2010 | Best newcomer at the NZ International Comedy Festival; first 7 Days appearances |
| 2011–2013 | Presenter on U Live (TVNZ U) |
| 2013 | Wins the Billy T Award |
| 2015 | Moves to London; Edinburgh Fringe show with Guy Montgomery |
| 2015–2018 | Co-creates and stars in Funny Girls |
| 2018 | Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show, for Horndog |
| 2019 | Runner-up on Taskmaster UK series 9 |
| 2020 | Lead role in the film Baby Done; Horndog released on HBO Max |
| 2021–2023 | Creates, co-writes and stars in Starstruck (three series) |
| 2024 | Voices Loto in Moana 2; hosts Junior Taskmaster on Channel 4 |
| 2026 | Co-writes and stars in New Zealand Spy (TVNZ 2, from 29 April); contestant on Taskmaster NZ season seven (from 14 September) |
Her 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award made her the first New Zealander to win the prize. With Taskmaster NZ she became the only person to appear in three versions of Taskmaster, having competed in the UK series and hosted Junior Taskmaster. “Taskmaster is definitely the most accurate portrayal of my personality – which I do not think is a good thing,” she told The Spinoff in September 2026.
Her past relationships, with comedians Guy Williams and James Acaster, have been widely reported, but she has not publicly named a current partner.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Rose Matafeo's parents?
Her father is John Matafeo, who is Samoan, and her mother is Diane Vuletich, a Pākehā teacher of Scottish and Croatian heritage.
How old is Rose Matafeo?
She was born on 25 February 1992, so she is 34 as of September 2026.
Where is Rose Matafeo from?
She was born in Auckland and grew up in Ponsonby. She moved to the UK in 2015 and is based there.
Does Rose Matafeo have siblings?
Yes, she has two older brothers.
Is Rose Matafeo Samoan?
Yes. Her father is Samoan; her mother has Scottish and Croatian heritage.
