The Questionnaire

Te Ahorangi Winitana

Te Ahorangi Winitana plays tough-butcaring Smooch in Ahika¯roa, a bilingual series playing first as mini-episodes online, and then edited together to create the full story for television. She talks to

Jones. Bridget What are you plugging right now?

Ahika¯ roa, the online and on-screen serial drama I am in in for Ma¯ori Television. It’s cool because it plays out first as webisodes, then they are compiled to make a half-hour television episode which will screen on Ma¯ori TV later in the year. It’s also cool because the dialogue is a split between Te Reo and English so that people watching can start to learn Te Reo as the watch. There’s a website where you can learn phrases from the show.

I love what I do, I love that I get to do what I love with my family as well. There is no other job that I would rather be doing.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Learning from the past, appreciating the present and welcoming the future with open arms.

Which living person do you admire and why?

I admire my grandmother, Nana Atamira, and my grandfather, Koro Len. They have both experienced great loss. I admire their strength, courage, heart and overall point of view on life. Even with the most unfortunate circumstances they are able to pick themselves up, live in the present and share the most effortless wisdom. I have the best examples.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

Falling on stage. Forgetting words on stage. Missing cues and just standing there blank on stage. Singing alone and going flat on stage. You name it and I’ve probably done it, haha.