Born in 1976 in Hāwera, Taranaki, Awarau was of Ngāti Maru, Taranaki whānui and Niuean descent.
Talented storyteller
He began his career in journalism, working for TVNZ, Māori Television and various print publications including the NZ Herald, Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Day.
He was recognised for reporting that highlighted Māori perspectives and current affairs, and his work often aimed to create space for Indigenous voices in mainstream media.
Writer and playwright Aroha Awarau pictured in September, 2015. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Awarau was an accomplished playwright whose work received national and international recognition.
His debut play, Luncheon, starring Jennifer Ward-Lealand and directed by Katie Wolfe, won Best Play at the 2014 New Zealand Script Writing Awards.
His second play, Officer 27, was a finalist at both the NZ Adam Playwriting Awards and the New Zealand Script Writing Awards in 2016. His short film Home later premiered at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto.
His most recent work, the short film Puti, tells the story of a Māori girl navigating hardship and sacrifice for her whānau.
The film was a finalist at the 2025 Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival and screened at the Indigenous and international film festivals, including Māoriland and the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Beyond his own creative work, Awarau mentored emerging writers and advocated for greater Māori representation in the arts and media.
Over more than two decades, he built a career that spanned journalism, theatre and film that consistently centered on Māori voices and stories.
Details for Awarau’s funeral are yet to be released.