It’s a long way from H¯awera to Oprah
Aroha Awarau didn’t get a free car but he did get a hug from Oprah Winfrey when he met the former talk show host for her only New Zealand interview.
As a young child growing up in Ha¯ wera, South Taranaki, Awarau would rush home from school to watch taped VHS copies of Winfrey’s talk show.
So last year when Awarau, who is an associate producer for Ma¯ori Television, found out Winfrey was in the South Island filming the $142 million Disney movie A Wrinkle in Time with Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kahling he started brainstorming how to meet her.
‘‘I’ve always been an Oprah fan so I was thinking how do I get to her?’’
As one of the most powerful women in the world Awarau knew it would be difficult to get through to Winfrey. Instead, he decided to take an alternative route by contacting A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay.
’’I found email addresses that could get to Ava and sent a message saying that Ma¯ ori Television would love to sit down and chat with Oprah and Ava.’’
Awarau’s email was sent on a Thursday, he got a phone call on the Monday, and was flown down to the movie set on the Tuesday. ‘‘I didn’t have time to register
‘‘Do I hug her, do I shake her hand?’’ Aroha Awarau
what was happening.’’
Ma¯ ori Television were granted an exclusive interview with Winfrey and DuVernay, getting to spend the entire day on set and a 15 to 20 minute on camera interview.
‘‘The reason they chose Ma¯ ori Television is because they were very keen to be connected to the Ma¯ ori and indigenous culture in New Zealand.’’
Awarau said he struggled to decide the best way to greet Winfrey when he finally met her.
‘‘Do I hug her, do I shake her hand?
‘‘A hug is definitely intimate and I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate but I think naturally when you see Oprah you have to give her a hug.’’
Awarau was nervous but said Winfrey didn’t make him feel like he was a burden for taking time out of her busy schedule.
‘‘She’s interviewed Nelson Mandela, and Michael Jackson, and presidents of the United States and everyone in between and yet here I was interviewing this icon.’’
Awarau was surprised to find Winfrey in a tent preparing dinner for everyone when he went to say goodbye at the end of the day.
‘‘She looked like one of my aunties cooking at the marae.’’
Awarau’s exclusive chat with Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay aired on March 12 on Ma¯ori Television as part of its Native Affairs series at 8pm.