Aroha hathaway biography

With her warm smile and bubbly personality, radio and TV star Aroha Hathaway has a knack for making people feel comfortable when they’re in front of the camera.

That’s because the popular broadcaster knows what it’s like to face your demons, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, growing up as an obese teenager, and being subjected to sexual abuse as a child.

Speaking to the Weekly ahead of her appearance on Maori Television’s The Nutter’s Club, a mental health advice show, Aroha talks about how her struggles have made her the strong woman she is today.

“One of the things about having a mental illness is that there are times when you feel all alone – but you’re not,” says the 40-year-old.

“There are many issues I can talk about.

She brings an earthy authenticity to her reads, with a calm strength that is both grounding and inspiring. What is truly authentic? It’s the chemicals – we’re just made differently.”

Years later, Aroha was also diagnosed with bipolar and began exploring ways to understand and manage it.

Now, she is so open about her illness, she calls herself crazy as a term of endearment.

“When I use it, you can substitute the word for magnificent,” she explains.

Better understanding of her mental wellbeing has helped Aroha realise how two major incidents in her childhood have impacted her adult life.

Although as a teenager she succeeded academically, Aroha weighed more than 103kg and was an emotional eater.

“The way I was treated as a fat girl affected the way I behaved in relationships.

“I always expected people to put me down, and thought being treated poorly by the other person in the relationship was acceptable,” she says.

Aroha was also abused as a young girl, a horrific ordeal she repressed for years and only dealt with later in life.

“I didn’t realise I still had hang-ups about the sexual abuse until I was in my thirties.

“I thought I was sweet, but I was showing behaviour that wasn’t just from eating chips.

The artist, broadcaster, writer and business owner has travelled the world, speaks three languages and happily describes herself as an activist when it comes to issues she is passionate about.

Her latest venture, ArohArt, is born out of that passion and a deep desire to celebrate and recognise authentic Maori art.

“It’s that word authentic that often prompts discussion.

But right now, being home in Thames, travelling to her media job in Auckland 3 days a week instead of 6, life is good. In fact, with over 40 participants, the flax weaving session needed to be relocated to The Back Room  venue just across the street in Thames in order to accommodate everyone.

As well as obvious delight and gratitude, ArohArt’s success also brings challenges, excitement and thoughts for the future.

“I think we’re probably going to need more space.

If you’re crazy, go crazy. If you laugh out loud, if you dance in public, just do it. Instead, she manages her depression and bipolar with diet, exercise and talking to family and friends.

“You shouldn’t have to medicate yourself to make yourself more palliative to others. My son Tikirau and I were travelling around the Coromandel looking for Maori art for our new home and we came back disillusioned by what we found.

If it goes unnoticed and if people don’t get help, it can be very dangerous. I know the things that keep me mentally well.”

Aroha doesn’t take medication for her illness.