Director, writer, model and actor Te Awarangi (Awa) Te Roera Puna (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Tūhoe) is one of Aotearoa’s most exciting young talents, with a stacked resume that continues to grow both on screen, and behind it.
You may know her as Pattie in the film Whina, Gia Te Atakura in Shortland Street or Kuini in Māori bilingual youth series Ahikāroa (or this 2022 Ensemble shoot) – or her latest project, starring in new local series The Boy, The Queen, And Everything In Between, streaming on TVNZ+.
The fun but moving show, created by takatāpui legend Ramon Te Wake, is set in a drag club on Auckland’s Karangahape Road, with Puna playing Hope – a ‘showgirl’ with the voice of an angel.
Puna’s fellow castmates are a true ensemble of talent from Aotearoa’s takatāpui/LGBTQI+ community, including Amanduh La Whore, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winner Spankie Jackson and Murdoch Keane, with costume design by Sammy Salsa. “It’s like a love letter to my community,” says Te Wake of the show.
Next up for Puna is working on her own new short film – and revisiting work from the past. She directed, produced and starred in the short Tūī in 2021 (and won an emerging talent award at the NZ International Film Festival); telling Te Ao Māori News in 2022 that the film, about a “young whakawahine trans woman dealing with her grief for her mother who passed, and the way she copes with that”, drew inspiration from experiences in her own life. A re-edit set is set to screen at the Māoriland film festival in March.
When was the last time you cried?
Saltburn, because it was terrible.
The last time you laughed so much your tummy hurt?
The other day when my friends and I were taking panoramas of each other to purposely make us all look cooked.
When was the last time you danced?
Yesterday during a scene we filmed for Ahikāroa. We needed clean sound for the recordist so there was no music playing and all you could hear was the ASMR of squeaky shoes and latex.
What was the last thing you bought and loved?
Probably my laptop because I was using a silly little iPad for ages that I lost in an Uber.
When was the last time you got really angry?
Jo Koy’s monologue speech for the Golden Globes. He was punching down so hard and had terrible comedic timing so none of his jokes landed. I’m so glad Chelsea Handler gave me hope for humanity at the Critics Choice Awards.
What’s the last piece of clothing you bought?
I bought the ‘Voll’ hoodie from my friend Jing He. She’s a local designer and I’m so obsessed with everything that she comes up with. Extremely clever and creative, go check out her stuff.
What’s the last beauty product you finished?
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 30ml. I was told by this older guy I was seeing a few years ago that retinol is one of the only scientifically proven anti-ageing skincare because it has years of research behind it. I don’t even know if that’s true, but I was naive and impressionable and he looked great for his age, so I’ve just continued the habit of using it.
When’s the last time you got drunk?
We hosted a party for our friend on Friday. But she went to hospital at 7pm because she had extreme stomach pain. All of her friends still showed up so it was a mix of North Shore vibes at one end of the house and Elam Art School vibes at the other. And I was drinking anything that was put into my hand.
What was the last really delicious thing you ate?
The best food I’ve ever eaten is from Masu, hands down. I would go there every night if I was loaded. The Shomi menu is fire.
What’s the last fight you had?
Probably cooking in the kitchen with my partner because I hate being told what to do.
The last book you finished?
Probably Isle of Tears by Deborah Challinor like over a year ago. I don’t really read books.
The last TV show you watched?
True Detective Season 4… Still wondering if it’s a Clarice Starling spinoff?
The last song you listened to on Spotify?
Down By The Water by PJ Harvey on my run this morning. I was living some kind of delusional heroin chic fantasy.
The last DM/text you sent?
I sent a DM in our group chat asking Luka to, “stop being intellectual”.
What’s the last drug you took?
I'm addicted to coffee.
When’s the last time you were home?
At home right now writing this.
