Māori literary excellence celebrated

Massey University celebrated Māori literary excellence at the fourth annual Māori Book awards held in Palmerston North last night.

More than 200 people including winning authors, potential writers, distinguished guests, and secondary pupils attended the national awards ceremony, which celebrated Māori authorship and recognised publishing excellence over the past 12 months.

Six awards were presented including a Lifetime Achievement award to Dame Kāterina (Ngāti Porou) for Ngā Waituhi o Rehua, which was published posthumously by Huia publishing. The special award recognises her outstanding contribution to Māori literary excellence, and was accepted by her daughter Erana Brewertson, who said receiving the award was a tribute not just her mother, but to all Māori writers and publishers.

Te Hītori, History category co-winner, Marina Sciascia (Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu) with Matatoa paid homage to former reverend Dr Hone Kaa, who wrote the foreword of the book. The reverend was also a godparent to her son.

Paula Morris (Ngāti Wai) winner of the Te Pakimaero, Fiction category for her novel, Rangatira was unable to attend the ceremony as she had just returned from the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany promoting the book. In a pre-recorded interview she said she was, "very humbled by the win and honoured to receive such a prestigious award."

Morris also said overseas people were captivated by Māori culture, which was why her publication received high interest at the book fair – which is the worlds biggest.

Assistance Vice Chancellor (Māori and Pasifika) Dr Selwyn Katene said the book awards had a national significance. “It is a key event for all Māori, one where we celebrate literary excellence and one that should be put on the Māori calendar.”

There were plans to make next year’s event even bigger and better, and accessible to a wider audience, so it can be celebrated nationally. But Dr Katene added: “Ngā Kupu Ora will always be home in Palmerston North.”

Ngā Kupu Ora, Māori Book Awards were established in 2009. It initially began as a way to celebrate Māori language week by the University, but has grown into an event celebrating excellence in Māori literature.

CATEGORY WINNERS ARE:

TE MAHI TOI – ARTS
Awhina Tamarapa (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Pikiao), Whatu Kakahu: Māori Cloaks, Publisher: Te Papa Press.

TE HĪTORI – HISTORY
Marina Sciascia (Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu), Hilary Pedersen (Pākehā) and Brian Morris (Ngāti Kahungungu, Rongowhakaata), Matatoa: Fathers & Sons, Publisher: Te Hanganui Partnership.

TE PAKIMAERO – FICTION
Paula Morris (Ngāti Wai), Rangatira, Publisher: Penguin New Zealand.

TE KŌRERO PONO – NON-FICTION
Alison Jones (Pākehā) and Kuni Jenkins (Ngāti Porou), He kōrero: Words between us – First Māori-Pākehā coversations on paper, Publisher: Huia.

TE REO MĀORI – MĀORI LANGUAGE
Hēni Jacob (Ngāti Raukawa), Mai i te Kākano, Publisher: Te Tākupu, Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

TE TOHU O KUPU ORA – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dame Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira (Ngāti Porou), Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua, Publisher: Huia.