Taika Waititi has won best adapted screenplay at the Oscars for his Nazi-era satire Jojo Rabbit, in which he played a fantasy version of Hitler.

The writer and director became the first Maori filmmaker to take home an Academy Award.

Speaking to the JC last month, the film maker said his mother, who is of Russian Jewish descent, who, provided the inspiration for the movie.

In his acceptance speech on Sunday, he dedicated the award to “all the Indigenous kids all over the world who want to do art and dance and write stories.

“We are the original storytellers and we can make it here as well.”

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Mr Waititi on the win at the start of her weekly press conference, saying “we’re all incredibly proud of him.”

Jojo Rabbit was also nominated for the best picture. Scarlett Johansson was nominated a nod for best supporting actress, for her role in the movie as Jojo’s mother.