The Māori Literature Trust

 Every two years the Māori Literature Trust calls for works of fiction by  writers of Maori descent to take part in the Pikihuia competition.   

The competition aims to promote Māori viewpoints and te reo Māori, with categories under novel extract, short film script, short story in te reo Māori, secondary school short story, and short story in English.   

Winners and runners-up of the short story category have been published in Huia Short Stories 8 which can be purchased online at the Huia Publishers website.   

The Winners   

Gisborne resident Mōrehu Nikora (Ngāi Tamanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki) was awarded the Te Pakiwaitara i te Reo Māori Award for Best Short Story Written in Māori for his work He Reta mā Taku Huia Kamanawa. Judge for the category Julian Wilcox of Māori Television noted Nikora’s work as ‘Warm, invigorating, enlightening and engaging.’   

 ‘Whilst the language used was of an exemplary nature,’ said Wilcox, ‘what perhaps matters most is that this is a simple message for an unborn child, capturing the signs of our times and hopes for our future generations.’   

Tina Makereti (Tuwharetoa, Te Ati Awa, Rangatahi, Moriori) from the Kapiti Coast took home the Short Story in English award for Skin and Bones, wowing judges with a contemporary twist on the birth of the earth mother Hine. Tina says Skin and Bones is part of a collection of stories in which she wonders what the gods might be like if they were only human.   

Tina has since written Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa, a collection of short stories featuring Skin and Bones. Click here to read more about the book and to find out how to purchase it.   

The award for best novel extract was given to A Song for Jimmy by Porirua resident K-T Harrison (Ngati-Paoa, Ngati-Haua). K-T grew up in Tokoroa and has lived in South Auckland and Waikato. K-T has five children and fifteen grand children.   

Urban Wellingtonian Nathaniel Hinde (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou) was awarded the Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga Award for Best Short Film Script Written in English for his work Ten Cent Life.    

Judge for the category Rhonda Kite praised Nathaniel’s script as ‘clever, amusing and warm hearted’.   

‘This year’s recipient spoke in an absorbing and compelling way through his character,’ she said.   

 Judges from Huia Publishers found the secondary school category particularly difficult to find a winner as many of those shortlisted were of high distinction. However, the winning entry Got Your Back, Bro by Tylar Edwardson (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui), Kawerau was one that stood out from the rest.   

 ‘Loyalty was a strong theme in many of the secondary school stories, but we found this story in particular had an engaging imagery and style that encapsulated the true essence of writing from a rangatahi perspective,’ said Te Mihinga Komene of Huia Publishers.   

FINALISTS 2009   

Finalists in the Short Story in English category   

Jacquie McRae (Tainui), Wellsford   

Rob Tuwhare (Ngā Puhi), Auckland   

Ann French (Ngā Puhi), Tauranga   

Puna Heremaia (Taranaki, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Awa), Rotoiti   

Raschel-Miette (Ngā Puhi), Gisborne   

Glenis Philip-Barbara (Ngāti Porou), Gisborne   

Robert Madden (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), Gisborne, with two entries   

Kim Torrez (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), Gisborne   

Wendy French (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Awa), Palmerston North   

Whai Conroy (Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu), Porirua City   

K-T Harrison (Waikato, Hauraki), Porirua City, with two entries   

Justine Murray (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui), Wellington   

Charlie Holland (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), Wellington   

Kelly Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto), Kapiti Coast, with three entries   

Piripi Evans (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tahu), Wellington   

Tina Makereti (Tūwharetoa,Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Rangatahi, Moriori), Kapiti Coast   

Peter Waaka (Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao), Queenstown   

    

Finalists in the Novel Extract category    

Paul Gilbert (Ngāi Tahu), Hamilton   

Ann French (Ngā Puhi), Tauranga   

Marama Salsano (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Tūhoe), Gisborne   

K-T Harrison (Waikato, Hauraki), Porirua City   

Rawinia Parata (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu), Wellington   

Finalists in the Māori Language Short Story category              

Ruihapounamu Ruwhiu (Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Awa), Rotorua   

Mōrehu Nikora (Ngāi Tamanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), Gisborne, with three entries   

Michael Ross (Ngāti Hauā), Lower Hutt   

Charisma Rangipunga (Kāi Tahu, Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungunu), Christchurch   

Finalists in the Short Film in English category              

Hamish Bennett (Te Arawa), Auckland   

Noema Khalia Watene (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi), Ngāruawāhia   

Kylie-Marama Meehan (Ngāti Maniapoto), Tauranga   

Ranui Taiapa (Ngāti Porou), Wellington   

Nathaniel Hinde (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou), Wellington   

Finalists in the Secondary Schools category             

Moria Awatea Holdaway-Howard (Ngā Puhi), Whangārei   

Tyler Edwardson (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui), Kawerau   

Manita Grant (Te Arawa, Te Whakatohea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui), Rotorua   

Makuini Warbrick (Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao), Rotorua   

Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu (Ngāti Uepōhatu, Ngāti Porou, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga), Gisborne   

Tarapuhi Bryers Brown (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Uenuku, Ngāti Rangi), Havelock North   

Summer James (Ngātitara), Hawera   

Jacqui Robinson (Ngāti Raukawa), Foxton   

Tihema Baker (Ngāti Raukawa), Ōtaki, with two entries   

KahuRangi Tapiata Watene (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou), Wellington   

Charlizza Harris (Ngāti Kahurangi, Ngāti Porou), Upper Hutt   

The Māori Literature Trust would like to acknowledge the support of its sponsors:   

Huia Publishers   

Toi Māori Aotearoa   

Te Puni Kōkiri   

Creative New Zealand –Te Waka Toi   

New Zealand Film Commission   

Te Ohu Kaimoana   

Astra Print   

D’signNation   

New Zealand Post Group