Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) is a te reo Māori teacher, writer and musician. Her work has been published in journals such as Catalyst and Awa Wāhine. She has performed at the national finals of Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam and the National Poetry Slam, as well as at Christchurch’s Word Festival. Isla […]
Naomi Toilalo (Ngāti Porou) is a Māmā, wife, former Māori Television presenter, she once was a contestant on TVNZ’s Great Kiwi Bake Off – and now she’s the proud author of Aotearoa’s hottest bilingual cookbook of the summer WhānauKai. Photo credit: Sarah Henderson Sometimes writers talk about their book as if it is something they’ve […]
Emma Hislop (Kāi Tahu), is a Taranaki based writer and māmā, whose debut collection of short stories, Ruin, is published this month by Te Herenga Waka University Press. Photo credit: Ebony Lamb Congratulations on the launch of Ruin! What is Ruin about and who should read it? Kā mihi nui ki a koe. I think of […]
Photo credit: Brett Phibbs essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Wehi Wehi, Ngaati Raukawa-ki-te-Tonga, Te Arawa, Ngaati Pukeko, Ngaati Takatāpui, Clan Gunn) is a poet who lives on Ngaati Wairere whenua. Their first book of poetry, ransack (VUP), was longlisted for the Ockham Awards 2020. They were the featured writer in Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2020 […]
Photo credit: Trinity Thompson-Browne Nicole Titihuia Hawkins (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Pāhauwera) is a writer, teacher, red lipstick enthusiast and proud māmā. She lives in Te Awakairangi and runs side hustles with her besties in her spare time. Her collection, Whai, won the Jessie Mackay Prize for best first book of Poetry […]
Photo by Ebony Lamb Kōtuku (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, W̱SÁNEĆ) currently lives on the Kāpiti Coast but has roots in both Aotearoa and Turtle Island. Her Adam Foundation Prize-winning novel that grew out of the gap between these places is a genre-defying work that bridges islands, generations, cultures, and histories. Sometimes writers talk […]
Lauren Keenan (Te Āti Awa ki Taranaki) is a writer of creative non-fiction, novels, short stories and popular psychology. Lauren was a winner at the 2017 Pikihuia Awards for Māori writers and a finalist in the 2019 awards. She was also a participant in Te Papa Tupu mentoring programme. Her short stories have appeared […]
There have been many wonderful achievements in the Māori literature space this month. Whakamihia ki ngā kaituhi Māori! Congratulations to the following writers for successfully gaining a residency at the Michael King Writer’s Centre in 2023: Jacquie McRae (Tainui) Amber Esau (Ngāpuhi) Hana Pera Aoake (Ngaati Mahuta, Ngaati Hinerangi me Ngaati Raukawa, Tainui/Waikato, […]
Verb took the capital by storm in early November, the streets and social media alike were abuzz with literary goodness. This year we were spoiled for choice with Māori events, curated by Trinity Thompson Browne and Rangimarie Sophie Jolley on behalf of Te Hā o Ngā Pou Kaituhi Māori. Rangimarie gives us her highlights, […]
Ariana Tikao is a writer, poet, singer, composer, taonga puoro practitioner and New Zealand Arts Laureate. She writes waiata exploring themes relating to her Kāi Tahu identity and mana wahine. Her music has featured on television, film, theatre, dance, and in online videos. Her first book ‘Mokorua’, explores her journey to reveal her moko […]
