Awhina-Rose Ashby

Bio

Āwhina graduated Excel School of Performing Arts in 2008 then graduated Toi Whakaari, New Zealand Drama School in 2012. She has continued working in the creative industries including stage, screen, and most recently social media. What started out as boredom and the need to keep her creative muscle working during lockdown turned into creating small clips, promoting brands, and sharing important Kaupapa all the while keeping many entertained and smiling during a rough 2 years of the covid 19 pandemic.

 Screen highlights include: Shortland Street, Dear Murderer, Resolve, Waru & 3 seasons of The Ringinz a Māori comedy television show produced by Enter the Dragon. The Feature film Whina directed by Paula Whetu Jones and James Napier Robertson, Te Pāmu Kumara a te Reo Māori children’s television show directed by Awanui Simich-Pene and Rūrangi directed by Max Currie which won an International Emmy award in New York (2022) for Best Short-form Series.

Theatre highlights include, Toroihi raua ko Kāhira the Māori translation of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida directed by Rachel House. Performing at the Globe theatre in London.  Party with the Aunties directed by Erina Daniels, Marama directed by Nina Nawalowalo of Conch theatre opening the Auckland arts festival in 2014. The mooncake and the kumara directed by Katie Wolfe, The Vultures directed by Miria George & Kororareka the Ballad of Maggie Flynn directed by Julie Nolan.

 Awhina (Ngāpuhi; Ngāti Hine) was raised on a farm in Motatau, a small place situated in the Bay of Islands. She grew up with Te Reo Māori as her first language. She currently resides in the Waikato with her partner and two boys Ururangi and Manuriki.