Te Waiarangi Ratana’s skills were recognised while working as an AD Wellington Paranormal, where he was invited into the writer’s room by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. Since then he has served as writer on TVNZ+ shows Yap Trap and Bird’s Eye View.

In 2019, Te Waiarangi wrote and directed Tuahine, a short film which was selected to screen at the 2020 Māoriland Film Festival. The attention from this project led to the production of comedy series Manu Masters, the pilot for which premiered at the 2022 Māoriland Film Festival. 

More recently, his short film Honey Kaha, which he wrote, directed and starred in has played at both local and international film festivals, Melbourne International Film Festival, Show Me Shorts Film Festival, and Hawai'i International Film Festival. 

Te Waiarangi is currently developing a feature film and a television series.