Home and Away star Rob Kipa-Williams admits moving response to emotional Parata family scene
Home and Away actor Rob Kipa-Williams has spoken about the moving response he received from viewers to the emotional Parata family beach scene.
In the scene, the family paid their respects to Mikaere by performing a haka on the beach.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Kipa-Williams admitted he was "super nervous" about the haka scene airing.
Explaining his nerves, Kipa-Williams said: "One, because it's never been done on Home and Away before and possibly maybe even Australian television let alone in the UK?
"I guess we all were nervous because we had our country New Zealand watching as well and wanted to do the storyline justice.
"It's not just a haka on a rugby field, it's a haka to farewell someone who's passed on and that's a really personal part of our culture."
"I was super surprised at how the audience received the haka," he continued. "We had hundreds and hundreds of people messaging saying they were brought to tears and that made us feel proud and privileged to create work like that, that represented our culture in another light.
"It was really beautiful for not just myself, but all of us."
When asked if the soap was set to air any more scenes which will help to showcase Maori culture, Kipa-Williams said: "There are a few things coming up that doesn't necessarily showcase the culture, but it sort of enables the viewers to see how we might support each other and also how the spirit world might be able to assist us in the real world."
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5 (UK) and Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 (Australia).
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