Ernie Leonard (1931 – 15, July 1994) was a New Zealand television presenter, wrestling commentator, and actor.
[1][2] Along with Steve Rickard, he co-hosted and commented for the wrestling show, On the Mat.
[5] In 1986, he recruited Whai Ngata to start up the Māori department on Television New Zealand.
[9] Leonard played the part of Charlie Rata, a core character in the ground-breaking TV series Pukemanu, which ran from 1971 to 1972.
[10][11] Leonard secured the position of head of the Maori Programmes Department for TVNZ during the mid-1980s.