2024 Programmes

Awa Puna

Awa Puna

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Te Awarangi (Awa) Te Roera Puna (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Tūhoe) is a director, writer and actor. A Toi Whakaari graduate, her accolades include Best Director at the TVNZ Awards for her co-creation of Born This Way: Awa’s Story, a nomination for Queer Maori Representative of the Year at NZ’s LGBT awards for her activism in the trans community, and an Emerging Talent Award at the 2021 NZ International Film Festival for her short film Tūī. Her acting work includes roles in Whina, TeKohu: The Mist and Shortland Street. She is a writer for Rūrangi S2 and Warner Brothers project, The Bishop.