Aroha

This award-winning series was born from a desire to tell contemporary love stories in te reo. The six subtitled stories by Māori writers explored love from many angles. Aroha mixed established names (Temuera Morrison, Rena Owen, Paora Maxwell), and emerging talents (writer Briar Grace-Smith, actor turned Mt. Zion director Tearapa Kahi). Filming began in mid 2001; in 2002 three episodes played at the Auckland International Film Festival, and the complete series played on Māori Television. Aroha was the brainchild of Karen Sidney, Joanna Paul, and the late Melissa Wikaire. The series was made in tribute to late filmmaker Cherie O'Shea.