Aroha sits down with his TV hero, 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, Awarau would rush home from school to watch taped VHS copies of Winfrey’s U.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.
He decided to email A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay.
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 what was happening.’’
Ma¯ ori Television was 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.
Awarau said he struggled to decide the best way to greet Winfrey.
‘‘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.
‘‘I was really nervous but her presence calmed me down.
‘‘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.’’
When he went to say goodbye at the end of the day, Awarau was surprised to find Winfrey in a tent preparing dinner for everyone.
‘‘She looked like one of my aunties cooking at the marae.’’
Awarau’s exclusive chat with Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay airs on Ma¯ ori Television at 8pm on Monday, March 12.