Paora Joseph is of Atihau-a-Papaarangi and Nga Rauru descent, from Kaiwhaiki Pa and Putiki Marae, Whanganui. In Auckland, he worked as an actor with renowned Maori filmmaker Don Selwyn. Selwyn encouraged him to become a director and he was later mentored by award-winning filmmaker Gaylene Preston in making Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka, which screened in the 2012 NZ International Film Festival.
Paora Joseph talks to Wallace Chapman about his new film Te Awa Tupua – Voices from the River ahead of its world premiere at this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival.
