Companion Backing Māori Literature

Robyn Bargh hopes the next two decades will bring more international recognition for Maori authors.

As managing director of Wellington publishing company Huia, Ms Bargh has spent the past two decades fostering Māori writers of fiction and non-fiction and is proud of the company's success.

For her efforts, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours - something she felt belonged to everyone who had helped her.
"Publishing is a group effort; a book can't get out with just one person. One person has the idea but to make it happen takes a lot of people."

Huia was formed by Ms Bargh and her husband, Brian Bargh, in 1991, and publishes resources and books, both in Māori and English, written by Māori writers. Resources include videos, magazines and journals, along with fiction and non-fiction books.

Ms Bargh, who lives in Karori, said more people were learning Māori and it was important there were books and resources in Māori to help them.

"In the next 20 years we need to consolidate and develop more Māori language resources. There are so few books, so few novels written in Māori," she said.
For the language to grow it was important for it to be better represented in New Zealand literature.

After visiting the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, she met people who were interested in indigenous stories, including those of Māori, and others who did not know where New Zealand was, let alone who Māori were.

Ms Bargh said upon receiving a letter from the governor-general informing her of the honour, she had to check on the internet to see what it meant.

"It's a mixture of feelings. I'm feeling surprised, if not amazed, to tell you the truth. It's an honour."

See more about Robyn Bargh

Publishers put their best educational books forward for the CLL Educational Publishing Awards presented on 17 November in Auckland.

Topics covered everything from HR, accounting, foodservice, English, mathematics, science, and history - one presented as a graphic novel - over the three book awards for Higher Education, Secondary and Primary sectors. In keeping with the growing importance of the area, a Digital Publishing award was also made.

This is the second year of the Copyright Licensing Ltd sponsored awards for which the winning publishers in each section received a $5,000 cheque.

Gillian Candler, convener of the CLL Educational Awards judging panel, said that the judges were impressed with the wide range of topics provided by New Zealand publishers to schools and tertiary education institutes and the high standard of design and content of books and resources. Candler, an education and publishing consultant was joined on the panel by Libby Limbrick, Faculty of Education, University of Auckland and David Greeney, former academic textbook manager at Lexis Nexis.

"The x factors that helped titles make the shortlist included exemplary pedagogical approaches and important New Zealand content presented in accessible and inspiring ways," said Gillian Candler. "The winners combined these factors with excellent instructional design, illustrative flair, and ease of use."

Best Book in Higher Education Winner
Contested Ground Te Whenua I Tohea: The Taranaki Wars 1860-1881 ed. Kelvin Day, published by Huia Publishers. "A valuable text that makes good use of original material, draws together experts, presents fresh insight," said the judges.

Best Book or Series in Secondary Education Winner
Gamma Mathematics: NCEA Level 1 by David Barton, published by Pearson. "A good use of colour and layout along with clear explanations and New Zealand examples make this text appealing to students."

Best Book or Series in Primary Education Winner
School Journal Part 4 Number 3 2010 and Part 3 Number 3 2010 ed. Susan Paris, published by Learning Media. "These two issues of the School Journal are dedicated to the Moriori people... a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of an important group of New Zealanders."

Best Digital Publishing Solution
Sails Shared Interactive published by Pearson. "Engaging and easy to use, a product which will be loved by both students and teachers."

The judges also gave Highly Commended Awards in three categories:

Higher Education Highly Commended: Teaching Primary School Mathematics and Statistics: Evidence-Based Practice ed. Robin Averill and Roger Harvey, published by NZCER Press

Secondary Education Highly Commended: Ngarimu: Te Tohu Toa by Kawata Teepa, published by Huia Publishers

Primary Education Highly Commended: Hina ed. Hana Pomare, published by Hana Limited

The CLL Educational Publishing Awards acknowledge excellence in presentation, content and appropriateness for New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions.

The judges further commented, "There is a good range of publications which have not just a New Zealand flavour but strong New Zealand content that helps students and teachers develop deeper knowledge and understanding of important topics for our nation."

Tina Makereti has won the first-ever Fiction award for Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa, a book of short stories that puts traditional Māori myths and legends into a contemporary context. Makereti is thrilled to be recognised for her first book.

"I'm really excited because, in New Zealand, there are very limited ways for fiction to get recognised," she says. "And you can't underestimate the value an award can bring in the world of publishing."

Awards judge and Massey University senior lecturer Spencer Lilley says it was particularly satisfying to have a Fiction category because, in previous years, there had been a shortage of Māori fiction published for sophisticated readers.

"Previously prolific authors like Patricia Grace have not published adult fiction in recent years," says Lilley. "So it was especially pleasing to not only have a Fiction category for the first time, but to also find there were young, first-time writers producing work of a high quality."

The calibre of this year's te reo Māori finalists also impressed the judges. 2011 is the first year that the winning book has been written completely in te reo, reflecting the growing diversity of books published in the Māori language. The Te Reo Māori category also produced the competition's first e-book finalist.

Chris Winitana won the Te Reo Māori award for Tōku reo, Tōku Ohooho (My Language, My Inspiration), a book about the revitalisation of the Māori language that has also been published in English.

"Many Ngā Kupu Ora award winners are established Māori literary academics," says Winitana. "I don't have any sort of degree so I'm tickled pink to be in such esteemed company. It's a great honour and I hope it opens up the possibility in the minds of other writers who have a passion for their particular subject."

Three further books were also recognised by the judging panel. The head of Massey University's School of Māori Studies, Robert Jahnke, won the Arts category with Tirohanga o Mua: Looking Back; the Biography award was won by Joseph Pere for Wiremu Pere; and Te Taiao: Māori and the Natural World, published by Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, won the Non-Fiction award.

The judges congratulated the 2011 winners on the quality of their work, and for their contribution to Māori knowledge. "In addition to excellent content and production, each of the winning books advanced our knowledge and understanding in new and different ways," they said in their judge's statement.

This year's ceremony will also include a special award for Mana Magazine, which published its 100th issue in May 2011. The award is to acknowledge Mana's role in encouraging Māori literature, and to celebrate a milestone in Māori publishing.

Mana editor Derek Fox says he was very surprised, but proud, that Massey had decided to honour his magazine. He also sees parallels between the objectives of the Ngā Kupu Ora Awards and his own publication.

"I've long felt that Māori need to celebrate our efforts and successes," he explains, "and, to a large degree, Mana does that by telling Māori success stories that may not appear elsewhere."

The Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards were established in 2009 by Massey University to mark Māori Language Week and to celebrate and encourage excellence in Māori publishing. At that time, it was felt that Māori books were being overlooked by mainstream competitions.

Internationally-recognised author Patricia Grace, who won the Biography category for her first work of non-fiction at last year's Ngā Kupu Ora Awards, says: "This wonderful initiative by Massey University in creating book awards for Māori writers gives an opportunity for recognition not always available in general awards."

The awards are named after the library collection of Māori resources established by Massey University in 2005. Ngā Kupu Ora translates as ‘the living words'.

The awards for this year's winners will be presented on November 29, 2011 at a ceremony at Te Pūtahi-a-toi, Massey University's School of Māori Studies in Palmerston North.

New Zealand Culture is Strong in Educational Publishing

New Zealand educational publishing is an international success with concepts and text translations used in many markets. Those innovation and design strengths are also shown locally in the presentation of our own culture, says Gillian Candler, chair of the CLL (Copyright Licensing Ltd) Educational Publishing Awards which announced its awards shortlist today. (October 12)

Judges' Comments
This year the judges were delighted by the number of strong entries in all categories, submitted by a greater range of publishers than in 2010. Shortlisted entries covered the range of individual titles for reading, textbooks, websites, CD ROMs and books for teachers, which added to the judging challenge. Submissions also covered many different curriculum subjects. The judges were particularly pleased to see entries that support learning in te reo Maori. "In every area from tertiary to primary there are titles with a te reo or Maori cultural focus, even a graphic novel," says Candler.
Candler, an independent education and publishing consultant was joined on the judging panel by Libby Limbrick, Head of School of Arts, Languages and Literacies, Faculty of Education University of Auckland; and David Greeney, former academic textbook manager at Lexis Nexis.
The judges noted that several of the shortlisted titles were published with support from the Ministry of Education or other organisations, and that this makes a significant contribution to ensuring quality New Zealand educational content is available to New Zealand schools.
The CLL Educational Publishing Awards acknowledge excellence in presentation, content and appropriateness for New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions.

Best Book in Higher Education Shortlist
Contested Ground Te Whenua I Tohea: The Taranaki Wars 1860-1881 ed. Kelvin Day, published by Huia Publishers
Human Resources Management in New Zealand Fifth Edition by Richard Rudman, published by Pearson
Principles of Accounting Fourth Edition by Murray J. Smart, Nazir Awan and Richard Baxter, published by Pearson
Professional Foodservice Second Edition by Pip Duncan and Julian Jensen, published by Pearson
Teaching Primary School Mathematics and Statistics: Evidence-Based Practice ed. Robin Averill and Roger Harvey, published by NZCER Press

Best Book or Series in Secondary Education Shortlist
English With Attitude by Stephanie Chamberlin, published by Pearson
Gamma Mathematics: NCEA Level 1 by David Barton, published by Pearson
Mathematics & Statistics for the New Zealand Curriculum Year 11: NCEA level 1 by Anna Brookie, Joye Halford, Anne Lawrence, Robin Tiffen and Jan Wallace, published by Cambridge University Press
Ngarimu: Te Tohu Toa by Kawata Teepa, published by Huia Publishers
Te Hikuwai: Launch Yourself into Te Reo Maori by Ian Cormack, published by Cengage Learning NZ Ltd

Best Book or Series in Primary Education Shortlist
Figure It Out: Energy and Figure It Out: Forces ed. Susan Slaughter, published by Learning Media
Hina ed. Hana Pomare, published by Hana Limited
I've Got Something To Say: Leading Young Writers to Authorship by Gail Loane with Sally Muir, published by Aries Publishing
School Journal Part 4 Number 3 2010 and Part 3 Number 3 2010: ed. Susan Paris, published by Learning Media

Best Digital Publishing Solution Shortlist
Hina online published by Hana Limited
Living Olympic Values published by South Pacific Press
Sails Shared Interactive published by Pearson

CLL Educational Publishing Awards of $5,000 each will be made for each category. The Awards will be announced at a function held on 17 November 2011 at the National Library, Auckland.

For more information please see www.copyright.co.nz

The winners and runners-up in the Pikihuia Awards were announced at the awards ceremony at Te Papa, Wellington, on Saturday and had been selected from a pool of 324 entries and 44 finalists.
The finalists in the Best Short Story in English, Best Short Story in Māori and the Novel Extract categories have been published in Huia Short Stories 9, which is now available in bookstores and on the HUIA website.

By popular request, HUIA will also be publishing the winning entries from the secondary school students' categories on their website at www.huia.co.nz.
The Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers, formerly known as the HUIA Short Story Awards, were established in 1995 to identify and promote Māori writers. This has resulted in hundreds of stories being published, including those by many award-winning writers.

The evening also saw Sir Hirini Moko Mead accept a special award for Lifetime Contribution to Māori Literature. Sir Hirini is the author of one of Huia Publisher's best-selling and most well-received books, Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori Values.

The awards are proudly sponsored by the Māori Literature Trust, Creative NZ, Te Puni Kōkiri, New Zealand Film Commission, Huia Publishers and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.

Winner of Best Short Story Written in English is Helen Waaka (Waipukurau) with Anahera Gildea (Wellington) and Anita Tipene (Northland) as runners-up.
Winner of Best Short Story Written in Māori is Fred Te Maro (Wellington) with Erin Thompson-Pou (Rotorua) and PJ Akuhata (Gisborne) as runners-up.
Winner of Best Novel Extract is Marama Salsano (Gisborne) with Ann French (Tauranga) and K-T Harrison (Hamilton) as runners-up.
Winner of Best Short Film Script is Larissa McMillan (Wellington) with Mike Townsend (Wellington) as runner-up.
Winner of Secondary School Award in English is Grace Allen (Palmerston North) with Maria Murray (Kaitaia) and Jayziah Sula (Hawke's Bay) as runners-up.
Winner of Secondary School Award in Māori is Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Palmerston North) with Kohukohurangi Isaac-Sharland (Palmerston North) and Hori Thompson (Rotorua) as runners-up.

Regional Media Networks: If you would like images from the awards to accompany articles, please contact Charlie Holland at Huia Publishers. Images will be available on Monday, 29 August.
For more information or an interview with the author, please contact Charlie Holland at HUIA on 04 913 2478 or email charlie.holland@huia.co.nz.

ENDS

HUIA is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

Te Kura Pounamu was awarded for the first time to a graphic novel, Ngarimu: Te Tohu Toa, researched and retold by Kawata Teepa and illustrated by Andrew Burdan (Huia Publishers).

Te Kura Pounamu judge Alice Heather loved that this story of a well-known Māori war hero, Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, has been brought to young readers in a graphic novel format. This story covers Ngarimu's heroic leadership of his platoon resulting in his death and him subsequently becoming the first Māori recipient of the Victoria Cross. Alice Heather said "the language is rich with the use of idioms and proverbs, one double spread page showing the soldiers performing the haka following Ngarimu's death in the foreground on one page trailing into the distance on the other page. You can virtually hear that haka being performed! You can also see and hear the
7000 strong crowd singing ‘ E te hokowhitu a tū, kia kaha rā' on the double spread page of the posthumous award ceremony of the Victoria Cross to Ngarimu."

Also presented were four awards which enable the recognition of both non-fiction and fiction across all age levels as part of Te Kura Pounamu award. These awards were first introduced in 2009 by Te Rōpū Whakahau, the organisation uniting Māori librarians and information specialists.

Te Tohu Pounamu, donated by Buddy Tainui of Ngai Tahu and Aoraki LIANZA, was awarded to the Haumi e the te reo magazine edited by Julian Arahanga and illustrated by Andrew Burdan (Huia Publishers).

The LIANZA Children's Book Awards are uniquely judged by librarians and supported by Caffe L'affare, Fishpond Limited and The Children's Bookshop, Wellington.

Word Up brings together exciting writing from across the Wellington region, as writers with Māori, Pacific, and European roots mix up music, story-telling, and poetry - for both adults and kids. Huia Publishers, spacificpr and the PTown Poets Society, and the Whitireia Creative Writing Programme have joined forces in this fresh new series celebrating words in all their diversity.

In the BIG RED READ, join the wonderful storytellers of Huia Publishers as they read aloud great stories for children in English and te reo, including The Seven Stars of Matariki and Te Huihui o Matariki by Toni Rolleston-Cummins. Then join in the interactive adventure of Barnaby Bennett. This is a story about a little boy who loves to wear the colour red; in fact, he loves to wear red so much that he refuses to wear clothes in any other colour. When the clothes get dirty and smelly, how can Barnaby's family get him to wear something else? The book is suited to a reading level of 4-8 years old, but is enjoyed by readers of all ages.

There will also be a demonstration of how Barnaby Bennett can be digitally read in English and in te reo Māori using Q-books. Q-books also allow children to interact with the story, learn to read, and even play games.

There will be spot prizes for children wearing RED or a Barnaby Bennett mask.

Huia Publishers is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely New Zealand or Pacific perspective.

For more information about the BIG RED READ contact Charlie Holland on 04 913 2478 or charlie.holland@huia.co.nz

The finalists for this year's Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers have been announced. Several familiar names appear on the list, but many new faces also attest to the fact that Māori writers are still very much alive and well.

More than half of the finalists have been previously published, and appear once again on the finalists' list.

One familiar name that has been selected for both the short story category and the novel extract category is Ann French, who lives in Tauranga. French has been selected as a finalist and published five times in HUIA's collections of short stories.

When asked what she thought makes a good story, French commented, ‘A good story must have heart and touch the understanding and instincts of the reader. A good story is also about humans and all their fallibilities and strength. I think Māori people have great strength'.

Having been largely recognised as a short fiction writer, French is starting to enjoy the practice of novel writing and stated that, ‘It was the easiest thing to produce 5000 words for a novel because it came straight from the heart. I write from the heart and I write what I feel at the time.'

The Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers, formerly known as the HUIA Short Story Awards, were established in 1995 to identify and promote Māori writers. This has resulted in the publishing of hundreds of stories, including those by many award-winning writers.

For many established Māori writers, these awards are where they started. This year's winners will be announced at a ceremony on the 27th of August where Huia Short Stories 9 will be launched, featuring the short story and novel extracts finalists.

The Awards are again sponsored by the Māori Literature Trust, Creative NZ, Te Puni Kōkiri, New Zealand Film Commission, Huia Publishers and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. The featured artwork for the Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers 2011 was designed by Wiremu Barriball. His artwork will also feature on this year's book cover.

The finalists for Best Short Story written in English are:

Anahera Gildea (Wellington); Anita Tipene (Northland); Ann French (Tauranga); Challen Wilson (Palmerston North); Dionne Norman (Auckland); Helen Waaka (Hawkes Bay); Hira Hunapo (Auckland); Lesley Rain Walker (Hawkes Bay); Marama Salsano (Gisborne); Mark Sweet (Hawkes Bay); Olivia Giles (Wellington); Piripi Evans (Wellington); Raschel Miette (Gisborne); Robert Madden (Gisborne); Sharon Clair (Tokoroa); Tania Waikato (Kawerau); Tania Bayer (Thames); Terence Rissetto (Auckland).

The finalists for Best Short Stories written in Māori are:

Erin Thompson-Pou (Rotorua); Fred Te Maro (Wellington); Mataia Keepa (Hamilton); PJ Akuhata (Gisborne); Te Atawhai Kumar (Wellington).

The finalists for Best Novel Extract are:

Anahera Gildea (Wellington); Ann French (Tauranga); Gordon Te Araroa-Ham (Kakahi); KT Harrison (Hamilton); Marama Salsano (Gisborne); Mark Sweet (Hawkes Bay).

The finalists for Best Short Film Script are:

Larissa McMillan (Wellington); Mike Townsend (Wellington); Tammy Davis (Auckland).

The finalists for the Secondary School Award Category are:

Alana Te Piki Broughton (Hawkes Bay); Grace Allen( Palmerston North); Hori Thompson (Rotorua); Jayziah Sula (Hawkes Bay); Kahurangiariki Smith (Hamilton); Kohukohurangi Isaac-Sharland (Palmerston North); Maria Murray (Kaitaia); Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Palmerston North); Tira Holland (Hawkes Bay).

Regional Media Networks: If you would like a list of finalists in any of the above categories that reside in your region, please contact Charlie Holland at Huia Publishers.

ENDS

HUIA is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

Media Release: Huia Publishers

For Immediate Use
02 May 2011 

Sir Mason Durie will be part of this year's Matariki celebrations at Te Papa, Wellington, on Thursday, 23 June to launch his new book, Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures. He will be joined onstage by prominent Māori politicians and academics as they discuss their vision for Māori development over the next few years.

 Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures discusses Māori moving towards a future involving new technologies, alliances, economies and levels of achievement and being equipped to respond to the changes in a way that enables Māori to prosper and live in a changing world as Māori. 

This book is a thought-provoking and accessible exploration of a life where Māori create social, economic and political futures that work with national and international changes.

Its constructive approach takes hold of future indicators to map out a positive and productive world with Māori values and perspectives at its centre. 

This book also builds on and extends Mason Durie's thinking in Ngā Kāhui Pou: Launching Māori Futures (published in 2003 by Huia Publishers) and records his thoughts on how Māori might best position themselves to respond to a rapidly changing world.

There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience after the panel discussion. Books will be available to purchase on the night from the Te Papa store.

Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures will be available in all good bookstores and online from Huia Publishers from Friday, 24 June 2011 and will retail at $49.99.

About the Author 

 Mason Durie (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa) is Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori and Pasifika) and Professor of Māori Research and Development at Massey University.

For forty years, he has been at the forefront of the changing approach to Māori health and been a leader in developments in mental health, and in 2010 he was knighted for services to Māori health and public health. He is also a leader in higher education for Māori and Māori development and regularly assists iwi and Māori communities to realise their aspirations for socio-economic advancement.

As well as his academic posts, he has served on various organisations, including the boards of Te Papa and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and has been a Commissioner for the New Zealand Families Commission and chaired the Ministerial Taskforce on Whānau Ora. He has published widely and regularly presents addresses and papers at national and international conferences.

For immediate use
12 January 2011 

Forget the delicate tiramisu, crunchy bruschetta or tarte flambée. Darran Meates the game hunter, butcher and all-round Kiwi bloke brings back the good old basic s with his soon-to-be-released book, The Game Butcher: Wild about Meat. Straight from the bush to your kitchen table.

Packed tighter than a meat raffle at the local bowling club, The Game Butcher: Wild about Meat, is filled with over 250 colour photographs and easy to understand instructions.

It shows how to field dress, skin and butcher pigs and deer, demonstrates caping techniques, gives food safety information for game hunters and has recipes for venison and wild pork.

The presenter of Field Dressing Game Meat Made Easy and The Game Butcher's Classic Step-by-Step Guide to ‘Hot Smokin' DVDs, Meates also appears on the online Internet programme, Outdoor Country TV.

With over 20 years' experience in game butchery, Meates also works closely with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Past Food Safety Minister Lianne Dalziel stated at a DVD launch of Meates's :

‘Collecting and hunting wild food is a traditional activity for our Maori, Pacific and Pakeha cultures and it is a rite of passage for many young Kiwis.'

Meates has appeared on Campbell Live and regularly in newspapers, journals and magazines. An advocate for bush safety, he can also be seen on the Department of Conservation website.

The Game Butcher: Wild about Meat will retail at $45.00 and will be avaliable online from Huia Publishers and in bookstores nationwide from 29 April 2011.

ENDS

Huia is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderfrul and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

For more information please contact Charlie Holland on 04 913 2478 or email charlie.holland@huia.co.nz

Media Release: Huia Publishers
For immediate use
12 January 2011

‘Short stories should be pithy,' stated Reina Whaitiri, this year's judge for the 2011 Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers' Best Short Story written in English category. Reina also noted that it is important that the stories be ‘interesting, and explore one idea ... As a Māori reader, I would be interested in stories that show what it is to be Māori and how we operate in the Māori, and the wider, world.'

The Huia Publishers biennial writing competition is on once again. The competition opened on 1 January 2011 and closes on 15 April 2011. There is a choice of five categories for Māori writers to consider, with entry forms available online at Huia Publishers website www.huia.co.nz.

Entrants will be in with a chance to win $2000 in each category except the Best Short Story written in Māori or English by a Secondary School Student. Secondary school students are eligible to win a cash prize of $500 and $250 worth of HUIA books for their school.

Finalists will have the opportunity of having their work published in a collection to be launched at the Awards night in August 2011. Following this, the books will be available in bookstores throughout the country. Huia Publishers and the Māori Literature Trust are proud to support diversity in writing and innovation and to recognise outstanding work by Māori writers.

This year's judges are confirmed: Erima Henare, the Board Chair and Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, will judge the Best Short Story written in Māori; the Best Short Film Script written in English will be judged by actor and director of theatre, television and for the big screen Katie Wolfe; and the Best Novel Extract written in English will be judged by Man Booker prize winner Keri Hulme.

Reina Whaitiri is predicted to judge the largest number of entries for the Best Short Story written in English. This year, Huia Publishers would like to see an increase in stories written in Māori and is encouraging te reo Māori speakers to try their hand at writing.

ENDS

Huia is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderfrul and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

For more information please contact Charlie Holland on 04 913 2478 or email charlie.holland@huia.co.nz

Mulholland states "We are glad to see that the place of the Treaty of Waitangi within our constitutional framework is going to be discussed. Maori have long waited for this opportunity and there will be no shortage of opinion within Maoridom as to how to give a voice to the Treaty in a formal constitutional sense".

"Upon completing Weeping Waters, all of the contributors were of the one mind that more weight needed to be given to the Treaty and that Maori need to play a real role in the governance of New Zealand. As to how that might occur, ideas ranged from abolishing the current Parliamentary system, to re-instigating the upper house, to introducing more Maori protocol within the House of Representatives" stated Mulholland.

When asked about timeframes for affecting change, Mulholland responded, "People need to realise that constitutional change is a slow process and historically it occurs in two ways; through the barrel of a gun or through winning the hearts and minds of the public. I have no doubt that the latter applies to the New Zealand situation and that over time our country will embark upon a national conversation".

As to the significance of today's announcement Mulholland added "Our people have waited 170 years for this moment. One can only hope that the Government's intentions are honourable in wanting to explore the true potential of the Treaty of Waitangi".

Published in February 2010, Weeping Waters gives an insight into various Māori perspectives of issues surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi and the nation's constitution, a must-read for anyone who needs a better understanding of the proposed constitutional review.

For those of you in Auckland who missed out on the book, here's your chance to meet him in person tomorrow night, click onto the image below:

With Christmas less than Seven weeks away why not enter Huia Publishers latest book draw for your chance to win Cooking with Charles Royal, a book that would make a fabulous gift or for making impressive Christmas dishes that the whole whānau will enjoy.

Huia Publishers has three copies of the book including one copy that has been personally signed by Charles himself.

To be in with a chance, all you have to do is email the name of three native plants or herbs chef Charles Royal uses in his recipes, along with your name and postal address. The winning names will be drawn on Thursday 18 November and winners will be announced on the Huia facebook page and website on Friday 19 November.

Email your answers to customer@huia.co.nz

Recipes such as Ti-toki duck and miro berries, horopito-smoked salmon and kawakawa brûlée feature ingredients that can be accessed from our very own native bush rather than the local supermarket.

It is an opportunity to wow friends or, better still, international visitors with our native delicacies. Dishes can be presented using the vibrant golden shades of wild bush mushrooms or the rich ruby reds of miro berries. Tantalise their taste buds with the peppery spice of horopito or the subtle nutty zest of pikopiko.

Food lovers are invited to meet Chef Charles Royal when he appears at the Rotorua Home and Garden Show, 29-31 October, where he will discuss his passion for and philosophy on food and cooking. More details regarding other events around the book will be posted on the Huia Publishers website closer to the dates.

Cooking with Charles Royal will be available from bookstores and the Huia Publishers website from Friday, 29 October 2010. A soft-cover book, this is the ideal gift for friends, family or corporate gifts at Christmas, retailing at a great price of $45.00.

Recipe extracts are available to media.

HUIA is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective.

About the Author

Chef Charles Royal

Charles Royal trained as a chef in the New Zealand Army, gaining London City and Guilds qualifications. After ten years and having perfected cooking for a thousand people or a small dinner party, he worked in Air New Zealand's catering service as the chef for business and first-class passengers and travelled the world sampling and cooking different cuisines.

He has been owner chef of two restaurants and has tutored cooking students. A growing interest in the Slow Food movement and experimentation with native plants in cooking led Charles and his wife, Tania, to establish KINAKI NZ®, which produces dried herbs and rubs for cooking.

Charles Royal is a leader in the field of Māori cuisine and is a nationally and internationally known chef. He won the prestigious award of New Zealand Innovative Chef of the Year 2003 and the New Zealand Cuisine Magazine and Matua Valley Wines Award of Innovation and Excellence 2004-2005.

For more information or to arrange an author interview, please
contact Charlie Holland on 04 913 2478 or email charlie.holland@huia.co.nz.

Six ambitious writers record their thoughts as they complete their working manuscripts on the Māori Literature Trust's new website www.mlt.org.nz. The auspicious hopefuls (top row L-R) Jeremy Latimer, Larree Lust, Tania Hinehou Butcher, and (bottom row L-R), Jacquie McRae, Mark Sweet and Eru Hart, reveal their experiences of being full-time writers on the six-month programme Te Papa Tupu.

The first month of entries illustrates the apprehension that comes with investing time into what is, for some, a life-long aspiration: ‘It's funny to think that I have dreamed of this experience all my life - and now that the opportunity is a reality ... I am terrified,' writes West Auckland participant Jeremy Latimer.

The journal also shows some interesting sources of inspiration for some authors. Wellington writer Eru Hart shows how Star Trek changed his perspective about life when a character poignantly reflects that ‘time is the fire we burn'.

‘It roused me out of my stupor. Wellington continued to blur away in cloud and rain outside my window but I felt suddenly clarified: This book would never get written with me on my couch watching re-runs. Time would burn the opportunity away. Day, by week, by month.'

In late June, the writers began work on draft manuscripts that they had always wanted to finish, but never previously had the time. The Māori Literature Trust, with the help of Te Puni Kōkiri, Creative New Zealand and Huia Publishers, has given these writers the opportunity to work full-time for six-months on their manuscripts.

Additionally, each writer has a mentor to help sharpen their manuscript. Mentors on the programme include authors and seasoned industry professionals such as Alia Bloom, Renée, Reina Whaitiri, Daisy Coles and Robert Sullivan.

A new entry for each author will be posted each month during the six months of Te Papa Tupu.

Ends

Opening the book launch in Puke Ariki Museum's Foyer will be local historian Rangikotuku Rukuwai on Wednesday 12 May at 5.30pm, who will be joined by some of the contributing historians and writers of the book.

The launch of Contested Ground: Te Whenua I Tohea coincides with one of Puke Ariki's most important exhibitions to date - the four month long ‘Taranaki War, 1806 - 2010 - Our Legacy, Our Challenge' ending 1 August 2010.

Brian Bargh of HUIA Publishers is pleased with how the book has turned out, especially the vibrant imagery used to compliment the detailed text saying:

"Having such rich material and diverse perspectives provided by leading scholars and writers lends way to a greater understanding of the Taranaki Wars - a definite asset to anyone's the book shelf."

Drawing on their extensive research and experiences, the authors throw new light on the controversies and characters of this turbulent period, examining the origins of the wars, the military tactics and tools employed, and the imagery and literature surrounding the conflict.

The frequently painful legacies of the wars and their place in the public psyche are also canvassed, providing a colourful, multifaceted view of this pivotal period in New Zealand's history.

The newly released Contested Ground: Te Whenua I Tohea is now available from bookstores nationwide and through the HUIA website.

Two of HUIA's popular children's books - Barnaby Bennett and Oh Hogwash Sweet Pea! - are now available through Apple's iTunes store for the iPhone, iPod and will soon be available on the newly-released iPad.

Auckland's Kiwa Media has developed the QBook - an interactive read-along digital colour picture book for young children and, together with HUIA, have adapted these two books to this new technology.

Not just an e-book reader and iPhone app, the QBook combines a narrator's voice with original picture illustrations and touchable text that is synchronised to highlight and sound off when the word is touched.

‘Barnaby Bennett and Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! make fantastic QBooks' says Rhonda Kite, President of Kiwa Media. ‘They're alive with great illustrations and super characters that parents and children can enjoy.'

Due to the huge demand for the iPad in the US, the delayed introduction of the iPad to New Zealand does not affect the introduction of Barnaby Bennett to the rest of the world.

‘By translating and adding Maori, Spanish and Japanese languages to their QBooks, Huia have expanded their market and can now reach 75 million people who own Apple devices. Being proactive has put them ahead of most publishers in New Zealand and with Barnaby Bennett it's given them one of the first Kiwi books on the iPad.'

Huia's Managing Director Robyn Bargh is optimistic about the future of the QBook. ‘Along with most publishers in New Zealand, we are keeping a watchful eye on the introduction of e-books and e-book readers. However, the recent launch of the iPad appears to go one step further and really bring Kiwa's QBook technology to life. Its very exciting that Barnaby Bennett gets to be one of the first Māori e-books available on the iPad'.

Kiwa Media will be showing off their new Qbook technology with Barnaby Bennett and the iPad at the London Book Fair starting on Monday 19 April 2010.

Reviewer Bill Perrett describes it as a 'contemplative book that nevertheless packs a punch'.  The full review is as follows:

'The history of Parihaka, once a thriving, autonomous Maori settlement in the Taranaki region of New Zealand, is sad and disturbing and also inspiring.

It's a chronicle of colonial arrogance, injustice and broken promises, of force used against non-violent resistance. Government confiscated land, destroyed property, made mass arrests; Maori, led by two "prophets", ploughed land given to settlers and built fences across roads.

Rachel Buchanan's account, her "framing" of the events of the 1860s and after, is based in her PhD research, but is also both more personal and more global. She describes her own journeys and reactions to the place, to her family's "amnesia" about its Maori roots. She shows how Maori and Pakeha have used pictures, stories, even public structures to record histories, then and since, and how Parihaka enlightens colonial history more broadly.

It's a contemplative book that nevertheless packs a punch.'

Bill Perrett, Non-fiction Pick of the Week, The Melbourne Age, 10 April 2010.

"It is a great honour to be recognised in this way" said Albert Wendt at the Awards Ceremony in Sydney last night. "Vela has been a character I have thought about for a long time so this has been a lifetime's work".

The Adventures of Vela was published by Aotearoa New Zealand-based Huia Publishers. Huia Managing Director Robyn Bargh attended the winners ceremony with Albert Wendt. "We were honoured to have published The Adventures of Vela and to see Albert's work recognised in this way shows he is one of the worlds leading indigenous writers".

Regional Chair for South East Asia and Pacific, Dr Anne Brewster said "The high standard of books in the South East Asia and Pacific region this year ensured that the short-listing process was a challenge for the judges". This year's finalists included J. M. Coetzee (Australia and Nobel Prize Winner), Peter Carey (Australia) and Thomas Keneally (Australia).

National honour 

Following the win, Albert was honoured by the Head of State of Samoa, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese, who gave a speech acknowledging the success.

'Albert's reputation as Pacific literary icon now spans decades. He has won several literary prizes and the 2010 regional Asia-Pacific Commonwealth Writer's Award is the most prestigious.'  (Download the Full Speech, pdf - 84KB).

Albert Wendt was Professor of New Zealand and Pacific Literature at the University of Auckland from 1988 to 2006, and held the Citizens' Chair at the University of Hawaii from 2004 to 2008. He is now Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland, and is writing and painting full-time.

He is of the Aiga Sa-Maualaivao of Malie, the Aiga Sa-Su'a of Lefaga, the Aiga Sa-Malietoa of Sapapaali'i, and the Aiga Sa-Patu and Sa-Asi of Vaiala and Moata'a.

Final Results 

The Adventures of Vela went through to the final phase of the competition where an international judging panel met on 12 April 2010 to decide the overall Commonwealth winners for Best Book and Best First Book with other regional winners from Africa, Caribbean, Canada, South Asia and Europe.

Although Albert came very close to winning the overall Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book, the eventual winner was Rana Dasgupta of New Delhi.