Jarod’s healing journey 'I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH'

The Brokenwood actor was on the case to reconnect to his family history

- Rebekah Hebenton

As a teenager, Jarod Rawiri fell in love with acting, a passion that would shape the course of his life and career.

Now a familiar face on New Zealand screens thanks to his time on beloved Kiwi series Shortland Street and The Brokenwood Mysteries, the star has found time to revisit his first love: kapa haka. What began as a simple gesture of support for his daughter has turned into a powerful reconnection with his roots.

The 46-year-old thought he was simply dropping off his daughter Huia at her first rehearsal with a new group, but he was quickly drawn in. Despite his initial hesitation, he couldn’t be more delighted to reconnect with his childhood passion.

“My cousin Netti Norman is the leader of the group with Jeff Ruha and she specifically asked me to bring Huia,” recalls the 46-year-old. “She is kind of haka famous. I got there, and they closed the door and said, ‘You're all in the group.’ I was like, ‘No, I'm an actor, I don’t do kapa haka.’ But I got stuck in and realised that I needed it.”