Julian Arahanga (born 18 December 1972 in Raetihi) is a New Zealand actor, director and producer of Māori descent (Ngāti Rangi and Ngāti Raukawa). He first came to international attention as Nig Heke in Once Were Warriors (1994), then as Apoc in The Matrix (1999). Through his production company Awa Films, he has built a substantial body of documentary work centred on Māori culture and indigenous stories.
Arahanga's documentary film The Stolen Children of Aotearoa (2025) was nominated for the New Zealand Screen Awards in the Best Director: Documentary Film category.
The documentary The Stolen Children of Aotearoa premiered at the Māoriland Film Festival and was subsequently broadcast on Whakaata Māori channel and the Māori+ streaming platform.
Radio Waatea published an interview with Arahanga about the documentary The Stolen Children of Aotearoa, in which he discusses the need to give voice to survivors who have waited to be heard for entire decades.
Arahanga received a special award and a grant of 10,000 NZD as part of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Awards for his contribution to the Māori film community.
Arahanga received the SPADA Independent Producer of the Year award for his extensive producing work.
