Tag: maori lit
-
A Wealth of Inspiration in Witi Ihimaera Smiler’s Te Kaikaukau
One of my favourite sessions of Auckland Writers Festival was Witi Ihimaera Smiler’s free event where he talked about the experiences that make up Te Kaikaukau. Just shy of 80, Witi made the plunge to consciously step into an immersive te reo Māori experience, whereby for a year he learnt from fellow students and his…
annafromuni
adult book recs, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, book recommendations, book review, contemporary non fiction, language learning, languages, maori author, maori lit, maori literature, maori non fiction, maori stories, maori voices, memoir, Non Fiction, non fiction book recs, nz non fiction, studying languages, te kaikaukau, te reo maori books, witi ihimaera, witi ihimaera smiler -
Bringing Mana Back in Tame Iti’s Mana
I had the absolute pleasure of listening to the iconic, influential, and incredibly intelligent Tāme Iti speak across multiple sessions at the Auckland Writers Festival in May, and he has been one of the key people in reshaping my approach to reconnecting with te ao Māori and te reo Māori. Through his own mana and…
annafromuni
annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, annafromuni studies, aotearoa new zealand, book recommendations, book review, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, mana, maori author, maori lit, maori literature, maori new year, maori non fiction, maori stories, maori voices, matariki, new zealand authors, new zealand authors and their accomplishments, Non Fiction, non fiction book recs, nz non fiction, reading new zealand, tame iti, te reo maori books, tāme iti -
My Waitangi Day Read is Airana Ngawera’s The Last Living Cannibal
As soon as I heard Airana Ngawera was releasing another novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After several busy months of PhD work and an unfortunate bout of reader burnout, which resulted in me returning my library copy of The Last Living Cannibal unread, I managed to get my hands…
annafromuni
adult book recs, adult fiction, adult historical fiction, airana ngawera, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, book recommendations, book review, Historical Fiction, historical fiction book recommendations, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, maori author, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, ngati patea, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz historical fiction, nz history, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, patea boys, te reo books, the last living cannibal -
The Mires by Tina Makereti – Intense and Charming
The Mires by Tina Makereti, shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockhams 2025, will immerse you in a tale of indigenous folklore, suspense, domestic drama, and the threat of extremism on ordinary lives. It is a magical page-turner from start to finish, and it won’t take you more than a…
annafromuni
annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book review, contemporary adult fiction, Contemporary Fiction, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, literary fiction, maori author, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, poetic prose, reading new zealand, suspense novel, the mires, tina makereti -
Another Witi Ihimaera Classic with Pounamu Pounamu
His first official publication, Pounamu Pounamu by Witi Ihimaera is a colelction of short stories that serves as both the first glimpse of works to come and the established foundations of Witi’s work. Pounamu Pounamu marks the pledge of a young boy, who from a young age vowed to write stories about Māori that schoolchildren…
annafromuni
airana ngawera, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book recommendations, book review, bulibasha, bulibasha king of the gypsies, famous nz authors, famous nz writers, german pension, janet frame, katherine mansfield, king of the gypsies, kiwi fiction, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, patea boys, pounamu pounamu, reading new zealand, short stories, short story collection, tangi, te reo books, te reo maori books, the lagoon, the whale rider, witi ihimaera -
Michelle Rahurahu’s Tragicomedy Poorhara Will Leave You Stunned
Poorhara by Michelle Rahurahu, winner of the Modern Letters Fiction Prize and the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction in the Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards at the Ockhams 2025, is a powerhouse of writing ingenuity and prowess. It is gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, and laughter-inducing, all wrapped up in one unforgettable tale. A tragicomedy set in…
annafromuni
adult book recs, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book review, contemporary adult fiction, Contemporary Fiction, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, literary fiction, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, michelle rahurahu, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, poorhara, reading new zealand -
Potiki – Another Stunning Patricia Grace Novel
Cousins was not enough for me (and it will not be enough for you readers who want more beautiful Maori literary fiction), so I have picked up Potiki by New Zealand literary powerhouse Patricia Grace. Not only is she one of New Zealand’s most iconic writers, but her family dramas and literary fiction where family…
annafromuni
adult book recs, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book recommendations, book review, Classic Fiction, classic literature, contemporary adult fiction, Contemporary Fiction, cousins, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, literary fiction, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, Patricia Grace, potiki, reading new zealand, slice of life, slice of life books, te reo maori books -
Maori Crime Fiction Returns in Michael Bennett’s Return to Blood
Return to Blood by Michael Bennett proves that Better the Blood was no fluke, and it may have set the Hana Westerman thriller series as a favourite of mine among crime thrillers, not only as a New Zealand read, but on an international scale. There is something so engrossing and sharp in these stories that…
annafromuni
adult book recs, adult crime fiction, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, better the blood, book recommendations, book review, Crime Fiction, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, michael bennett, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, nz crime fiction, NZ Fiction, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, reading new zealand, return to blood, te reo maori books -
Hear The Voices of Our Indigenous Women in NUKU
Step into the wonderful, eye-opening, informative, and inspirational pages of NUKU, a tome that holds the stories of 100 indigenous wāhine toa from all across the globe. Assembled by Qiane Matata-Sipu, this collection of voices will speak loud and proud, and will inspire many generations old and new into becoming their strongest, most in-touch selves…
annafromuni
academic research, academic writing, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book recommendations, book review, diversity, diversity representation, feminist books, feminist reads, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, multiculturalism, new zealand authors, Non Fiction, non fiction book recs, nuku, nz non fiction, qiane matata-sipu, reading new zealand, why are new zealand voices important -
Maori Historical Fiction in Monty Soutar’s Kāwai : For Such a Time as This
Calling all epic fantasy friends, historical fiction fans, and readers wanting to learn more about Aotearoa and its people. Kāwai: For Such a Time as This is the first fiction book released by Dr. Monty Soutar, revered historian and respected author in Aotearoa New Zealand. His historical non-fiction books showcase the courage, bravery, strength, and…
annafromuni
adult book recs, annafromuni, aotearoa new zealand, book review, Historical Fiction, kawai: for such a time as this, kawai: tree of nourishment, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori new year, maori stories, maori voices, matariki, monty soutar, new zealand authors, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz history, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, nz voices, reading new zealand