Keisha Castle-Hughes (born 1990 in New Zealand) is a half-Maori and half-Pakeha (European New Zealander).

She was discovered for the movie Whale Rider (2002) by the casting director and the casting assistant who visited her primary school in Mt. Wellington, New Zealand. Keisha was chosen among several hundred to star in the main role of Paikea. She was discovered by the same agent who discovered Anna Paquin.