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, so she is 34 as of October 2026, and she grew up in Ponsonby with two older brothers. In September 2026 she became the first person to appear in three versions of Taskmaster.
Matafeo flew home from the UK to compete in season seven of Taskmaster NZ, which screened on TVNZ 2 from 14 September to 13 October 2026, and her family even shaped her look on the show. Her Taskmaster costume was inspired by her mum’s favourite film, Dazed and Confused.
Who are Rose Matafeo’s parents?
Rose Matafeo’s father is John Matafeo, a first-generation Samoan immigrant who joined the Polynesian Panthers as a teenager. Her mother is Diane Vuletich, a Pākehā teacher of Scottish and Croatian descent who moved to Kampala, Uganda, in the 2010s to teach English. Both are Rastafarians, and they raised their family in Ponsonby, Auckland.
| Name | Rose Matafeo |
| Born | 25 February 1992 |
| Age | 34 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Lives | United Kingdom, since 2015 |
| 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 |
| Latest | Contestant on Taskmaster NZ season seven (2026) |
Who is Rose Matafeo’s father?
Rose Matafeo’s father, 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, and he later worked in an administrative role at a Rastafarian church. He met Diane Vuletich through the Twelve Tribes of Israel, the Rastafarian denomination both belong to.
Who is Rose Matafeo’s mother?
Rose Matafeo’s mother, Diane Vuletich, is a Pākehā teacher of Scottish and Croatian descent. In the 2010s she moved to Kampala, Uganda, to teach English. Like John Matafeo she is a Rastafarian. She also shaped her daughter’s Taskmaster NZ costume, a nod to the film Dazed and Confused, which is her favourite movie.
A Rastafarian upbringing in Ponsonby
Both of Rose 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.”
Does Rose Matafeo have siblings?
Yes. Rose Matafeo has two older brothers, whose names and careers she has not made public, making her the youngest child in the family. She is also close to her grandmother in Auckland. “Every time I go back to New Zealand I live with my Nan, and it is the sweetest thing,” she told NME in January 2021.
Every time she goes back to New Zealand she stays with her nan, who sent food to her film sets and is thanked in the credits.
Where is Rose Matafeo from?
Rose Matafeo is a New Zealander, born in Auckland in 1992. She grew up in Ponsonby and went to Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, where she was head girl. Through her father she is Samoan, and through her mother she has Scottish and Croatian ancestry. She has lived in the UK since 2015.
She keeps coming home for work. She filmed New Zealand Spy, which she co-wrote with her best friend Paul Williams, in Aotearoa before it screened on TVNZ 2 from 29 April 2026, and she shot Taskmaster NZ season seven over five days at the show’s West Auckland studio.
How old is Rose Matafeo?
Rose Matafeo is 34. She was born on 25 February 1992 and turned 34 on 25 February 2026, so she will turn 35 in February 2027. She was 27 when she was a contestant on Taskmaster UK series nine in 2019 and 34 when she competed on Taskmaster NZ season seven in 2026.
She started young. At 15, in 2007, she took part in the New Zealand Comedy Trust’s Class Comedians programme. She now has nearly two decades of stand-up behind her. Her height has not been published by a reliable source.
Career timeline
Rose Matafeo has worked in comedy for nearly two decades, starting as a 15-year-old in Auckland in 2007. The table below lists her main milestones, from the Billy T Award in 2013 and the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2018 to New Zealand Spy and Taskmaster NZ in 2026.
| 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 | Contestant 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 (14 September to 13 October) |
Her 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award made her the first New Zealander to win the prize. With Taskmaster NZ she became the first 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. She is one of the famous New Zealanders who have made their name in British comedy.
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 October 2026.
Where was Rose Matafeo born?
In Auckland. She grew up in Ponsonby and has been based in the UK since 2015.
Does Rose Matafeo have brothers?
Yes, she has two older brothers. Their names have not been made public.
What nationality is Rose Matafeo?
She is a New Zealander. Her father is Samoan and her mother has Scottish and Croatian heritage.
