Author Spotlight Q&A: Emma Hislop

author emma hislop standing in front of a garden

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 […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: essa may ranapiri

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 […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Nicole Titihuia Hawkins

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 […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall

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 […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Lauren Keenan

  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 […]

Whakanuia! Celebrating Māori writers

  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, […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Ariana Tikao

  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 […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Tayi Tibble

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 Wellington. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters, Te Herenga Waka, where she was the recipient of the Adam Foundation Prize. Her first […]

Author Spotlight Q&A: Alice Te Punga Somerville

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 Language & Literatures and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia (Canada). Alice studied at the University of Auckland, earned a PhD at Cornell University, […]