Rawiri Paratene CNZM  is a renowned actor, director, writer, and environmentalist whose career has spanned more than five decades on stage and screen. He is widely recognised for his role in Whale Rider, alongside extensive work in theatre, film, and television in Aotearoa and internationally.

As a student in the 1970s, Paratene was a member of Ngā Tamatoa, the activist movement that fought for Māori rights, land, language, and culture. He was one of those who presented the 1972 Te Reo Māori petition to Parliament.

A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, he has remained committed to telling Māori stories and continues to advocate for their presence on film. Honoured as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Rawiri Paratene is celebrated as a trailblazer, activist, and rangatira of the performing arts in Aotearoa.

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