australian television information archive

Aroha

New Zealand

Produced by Aroha Films

Producers: Melissa Wikaere, Karen Sidney, Joanna Paul

Produced: 2001

'Aroha', the Maori word for love, is a six-part anthology of half hour stories written, produced and acted in the Maori language. Aroha is the first series of its kind to be developed in New Zealand and features an outstanding lineup of Maori actors. Temuera Morrison, Rena Owen, Cliff Curtis, Taungaroa Emile, Ngarimu Daniles and Pua Magasiva all give stellar performances, but the writers and directors behind them add even more weight to their work.

Three of the films (Mataora, Haka and Siva and Tiare) were screened at the 2002 International Film Festival in Auckland to critical acclaim and the innovative dramas won praise at the Dournanez Film Festival in France, the Hawaiian International Festival and the Message Sticks Film Festival in Sydney, Australia. In 2001, AROHA also scored an award at the Canadian Imagine Native Arts Festival for Best TV Programme.