In 2000, we established this charitable trust to deliver programmes that promote and foster Māori literature and its place in the literature of the nation. Guided by our own cultural values, we seek to grow Māori writers’ skills, confidence and opportunity. We encourage Māori writers to stand tall as Māori and to support each other and become a strong force within the literary community of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Māori Literature comes in diverse forms and we are excited to widen our net of support to include a broader range of contemporary kaituhi Māori.
The Māori Literature Trust is proud to announce that we are expanding the Pikihuia genre categories. From 2023 the Pikihuia Awards will welcome submissions in the categories of Short Fiction, Short Non-Fiction and Poetry.
We foster and promote Māori writers
E tuhi, taki mai i te ao Māori ki te ao whānui
Taking Māori voices to the world
Tikanga Māori
We are always guided by our own cultural values, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori. We are open to new ideas and innovation – building on the traditions of our tūpuna.
Tū Mai
We encourage Māori writers to stand tall as Māori. We acknowledge that it takes courage to share a story.
We stand beside and advocate for Māori writers.
Whakawhanaungatanga
We create opportunities to strengthen the collective of Māori writers and we nurture relationships with collaborators to build impact.
Whakatupu
We seek to grow Māori writers’ skills, confidence and opportunities. We actively promote Māori writers.
Tino Rangatiratanga
We seek independence and freedom to amplify Māori voices.
A selection of books written by Māori authors who have participated in our Te Papa Tupu writers incubator
and the finalists from the 2021 Pikihuia Short Story competition.
There have been many wonderful achievements in the Māori literature space this month. Whakamihia ki ngā kaituhi Māori! Congratulations to the following writers
Verb took the capital by storm in early November, the streets and social media alike were abuzz with literary goodness. This year we were
Ariana Tikao is a writer, poet, singer, composer, taonga puoro practitioner and New Zealand Arts Laureate. She writes waiata exploring themes relating to her
Photo credit: Jane Ussher Tayi Tibble (Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Porou) is a writer, a 90’s baby and a fashion icon living in
this is a post in three parts. the first was written in early October, when I was wrangling multiple deadlines at once. the second, a
Alice Te Punga Somerville (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki) is a scholar, acclaimed writer, poet and irredentist. She is a Professor in the Department of English
