Aroha Rawson

Actor / Commercial
Age Range

40—50

Height

158cm

Eye Colour

Brown

Hair Colour

Black

Ethnicity

Māori / Multi-ethnic

Based In

Auckland, New Zealand

Pronouns - (ia/she/her)

Iwi affiliations - Ngāti Ranginui / Ngāi te Rangi / Ngāti Haua/ Ngāti Pikiao

Actor, artistic director, astronomer, societal activist, women’s champion - Aroha Rawson stands tall in our cultural landscape.

As an actor she has played many parts in diverse media, including pioneering work in the pilot and two seasons of early web series Rurangi, winner of the 2022 International Emmy for a Short Form Series.

Her stage roles have been equally varied, often with a strong Māori connection.

Most recently she has endeared herself to a broad television audience playing Hine in the three seasons of TV3’s Mean Mums, for which she was a Best Supporting Actress finalist in the 2020 NZ Television Awards.

Other memorable television roles have been in Shortland Street, The Gulf, The Brokenwood Mysteries, The Dead Lands, Panthers and Ahikaroa.

In short film Aroha is known for Yellow Roses and The Brylcreem Boys, which was accepted into the Toronto Imaginative Short Film Festival

Big screen appearances have included Mahana, Same But Different, and Cousins.

Aroha was born in Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland , grew up in Te Waipounamau-Christchurch and is of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Pikiao, Scots and Irish descent.

She fell in love with acting at 11 years old and went on to train with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Her decades-long interest in Māori, Maya and Greek astronomies has also given her a special insight into concepts of wellness, and Māori perceptions of time and history. She is is committed to her ongoing journey learning rongoā (Māori healing) and te reo Māori.

In other lives Aroha has been a chef, and a miner in the sapphire and opal fields of Australia.

In her down time she can be found fishing, foraging, writing, dancing and enjoying amazing food and music with good humans all around Aotearoa-New Zealand.



Aroha Rawson

Artist Resume

Television

Year
Role
Production

2023

Wendy

The Cleaner

Dark City Limited

2023

Joyce

Far North

South Pacific Pictures

2021

Marama

Panthers

Tevaka Productions/Four Knights Films

Dir. Siope Magasiva

2021

Hine (Co-Lead)

Mean Mums - Season 3

South Pacific Pictures

Dir. Robyn Grace

2020

Hine (Co-Lead)

Mean Mums - Season 2

South Pacific Pictures

2020

Marama

The Gulf

The Gulf Productions Ltd

Dir. Various

2019

Hine (Co-Lead)

Mean Mums - Season 1

South Pacific Pictures

2019

Denise Karawa

The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 6-Dead and Buried

South Pacific Pictures

Dir. Katie Wolfe

2019

Casey Thomas

Shortland Street

South Pacific Pictures

Dir. Various

2018

Hine

Mean Mothers - Pilot

South Pacific Pictures

2018

Mother / Wahine Jones

Only In Aotearoa - Series 2

Kura Productions

Dir. Various

2018

Mahia

The Dead Lands

Randolph TDL for AMC/TVNZ

Dir. Various

2017

Lecturer

Ahikaroa Season 1

Kura Productions

2016

Chattrice

Sensing Murdeer

TVNZ

Dir. Ande Cunningham

2015

Motel Manager

Find Me a Maori Bride

Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Productions

Dir. Kiel McNaughton

2013

Bartender

Cover Band

The Downlow Concept

Dir. Jonathan Brough

2013

Janice Tamati

Hardcase

Maori Television

Dir. Tipare Iti

2010

Queenie

Super City

Super Fumes

Dir. Taika Waititi

2009

Nurse Linda

Shortland Street

South Pacific Pictures

Dir. Various

2002

Jesse.com

TVNZ

Dir. Jason Gunn

Web Series

Year
Role
Production

2022

Whina

Rūrangi S2 (in production)

Autonomous

Dir. Max Currie

2019

Whina

Rurangi

Autonomouse

Dir. Max Currie

2017

Lecturer

Ahikaroa Season 1

Kura Productions

Feature Film

Year
Role
Production

2019

Pahe

Cousins

Miss Conception Films

Dir. Ainsley Gardiner / Briar Grace-Smith

2018

Awhina

Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story

Raw Productions

2015

Aunty Ruth

Mahana

The Patriarch Ltd

Dir. Lee Tamahori

Short Film

Year
Role
Production

2021

Awatea

Daughter of God

Jen Huang/Maza White

Dir. Maza White

2021

Maraea Hemopo

The Brylcreem Boys

Dir. Rafer Rautjoki

2018

Aunty Mere

Reunion

Rafer Rautjoki

Dir. Rafer Rautjoki

2018

Aggie Johnson

Yellow Roses

Whitiora Productions

Dir. Paula Whetu-Jones

2013

Remana

Remana and Ropata

Mokomedia

Dir. Rangi Rangitukunoa

2009

Lead

Dangerous Curves

The Juicy Soup Project

Dir. Richard Simkins

2007

Troll/Cinderella

Happily Ever After, Again (48hr Film Festival)

The Whipping Girl Productions

Dir. Max Currie

2006

The Escort

Belmont Productions

2005

Heni

Bodil

48hr Film Festival

Dir. Ben Short

2004

Maria

Conclusion

Dir. Marina Speke

2004

Ting Ting

Harold

DVPP

Dir. Beth Gauldie

2004

Mama Pai

MC Green Grass

Tohu Te Autahi Production

Dir. Cameron Jago

2003

Johnny Swann The Handsome Thief

Belmont Productions

2003

Receptionist

Starstruck

Dir. Anna Middleton

Stage

Year
Role
Production

2017

Hilda Harawira, Marama Te Hau, Georgina Walker-Grace

The Haka Party

Auckland Theatre Company

Dir. Katie Wolfe

2016

Glimmer

Basement Theatre

Dir. Jason Te Kare

2016

Hairy Fairy

Hui Takataapui - ActiVAtion

2016

Te Hononga - ActiVAtion for the Masters thesis of Johanna Klaus, Omaru River, Glenn Innes

2016

Te Marunui Hotene Exhibition - ActiVAtion

Zeus Gallery, Tauranga

2015

MacMāori

Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art

Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Qld, Aus.

Dir. Aroha Rawson, Rosanna Raymond

2015

Slotte de La Flotte

Pacific Sisters

Oceanic Performance Biennale, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

2015

Slotte de La Flotte

2015

MacMāori

CEAC, Henderson Auckland

Dir. Aroha Rawson

2013

Multiple

The Maori Vagina Monologues

Basement Theatre

Dir. Maria Walker

2012

Donna Pasqua

Venturina, Venturina (Commedia del Arte)

Smackbang Theatre Company

Dir. Tainui Tukiwaho

2009

Guest Appearance

Ma Tatou

Urban Arts

2004

Candida

Candida

Christchurch Repertory

Dir. Penny Giddens

2002

Secretary

Do Not Disturb

Elmwood Players Christchurch

Dir. Marion Olett

Theatre

Year
Role
Production

2024

Whero

The Handlers

Te Pou Theatre

Dir. Amber Curreen

Voice Over

Year
Role
Production

2009

Voice Over

Channel Promo

Maori Television

Dir. Awa Minhinnic

2008

From the Attic

ANZAC Day Broadcast

Dir. Larry Parr

Commercial

Year
Role
Production

2021

Salmon Farmer

FMG - Advice & Insurance Rural Weather Outlook "Interruption"

BCG2 Auckland

2020

Salmon Farmer

FMG - Advice & Insurance "Progress"

Eight for BCG2 Auckland

2019

Nosy Neighbour

Kiwibank - Advice

Finch Company

2018

Female Boss

Champions for Change - 50/50

Eight for NZ Global Women Trust

2013

Supermarket Customer

Colenso BBDO/Revolver

2012

Woohoo-er

Igloo Launch

Sugar/Assembly

2012

Cafe Woman

DDB/Exit Films

2011

Hero Sideline Mum

Work Communications/Flying Start

2009

Family 2

Toyota NZ

2008

Soccer Mum

Sovereign Sponsorship TVNZ Sport

TBWA Whybin/Robbers Dog

2006

Mad Woman

Anti-Gambling Campaign

Maori Television

Corporate Work

Year
Role
Production

2017

MC

Whanau Day Celebration

Auckland Arts Festival

Dir. Herself

2016

MC

National Maori Theatre Hui

Training

Year
Role
Production

2014

Acting

Acting (1 yr course)

Actors Lab Studio

Dir. Peter Feeney

2011

Acting

Screen Acting Workshops to 2013

Actors Lab Studio

Dir. Peter Feeney

2009

Screen Acting

Auditioning for Screen

Stephen Lovatt Workshops

Dir. Stephen Lovatt

2005

Accent Work

American Accent

Terri D'Ath Casting Workshops

Dir. Terri D'Ath

2004

Acting

Ayombe Physical Theatre Retreat

Maruia Springs & Diamond Harbour

Dir. Josephine Baez (New York)

1996

Acting

Diploma in Acting - graduated 1998

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) - The Actors Theatre School, London