COMEDIAN TJ McDonald has been told tall tales all his life.
But one story that circulated at family gatherings seems to have struck historic truth.  Following some seriously in-depth research, TJ came to the conclusion that a Maori truly did eat his great granddad.
“The stories are family legend, and the eaten-by-a-Maori story is one of the earliest I can remember.”
TJ says his father’s seven brothers and sisters would all compete at family functions to out-do the other with their tales. His great grandfather was a wiry man of the whale hunting brood whose flesh would have been tough, with hints of whisky.
“I’m kind of glad it happened after all the stories I’ve heard. I’d say he deserved it, by all accounts the guy was a complete prick.”
Every family history has its odd fish but TJ’s is especially blessed; with gravediggers, asylum patients, and alcoholics aplenty.
“Alcohol and mental illness are themes in the McDonald heritage. It’s quite disturbing how much whisky they consumed.”
As Wellington’s only Billy T Award nominee TJ joins a distinguished list of previous nominees including Ben Hurley, Dai Henwood, and the Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement. His first solo show A Maori ate my Great Granddad has surprisingly drawn no flack from the PC community.
Local cannibalism is not ancient history, TJ says. Just five generations ago Maori were eating their cousins and rival tribes, and those with an ear for history know who ate who.
“When I read Michael King’s history of New Zealand I realised most of the stuff we were taught at school was wrong.”
There are six generations of Kiwi McDonalds on his father’s side, and researching this comedy gig led him to investigate his mother’s Polish background. This opened the door to tales of drunken doctors fighting Hitler.
“A highlight of the research was finding out the important role my family played in WWII. There was the story of the doctor being posted in Egypt during WWII, where he spent most of his time drunk.”
This Comedy Festival is his first solo appearance away from the sketch group Comedy Cure, and he has performed in the festival since 2004. TJ says the freedom of being your own director is great, but working with others has its advantages.
“It’s two sided, because with a group you will be working on a theme and someone will throw in the punch-line, while I have a note book full of ideas just waiting for the punch.”
TJ McDonald’s A Maori Ate my Great Granddad, 7pm, The Fringe Bar, to May 8.


The story above, Tough, Whisky flavoured human flesh anyone? had incorrectly stated that TJ McDonald said Maori practiced cannibalism two generations ago, not five generations ago. We have now amended this. Apologies for any confusion caused ­– Ed.