The 2013 Pikihuia Awards are now in their 10th year promoting Māori stories and writers and the judges for this year’s Awards have now been confirmed.

The judges for the five categories are:

Sir Mason Durie - Emeritus Professor at Massey University - will judge the Best Short Story written in English;

Hana O’Regan - Director Māori & Pasifika and Director of Student Services at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology - will judge the Best Short Story written in Māori;

Larry Parr - producer, writer and director of films and television - will judge the Best Short Film Script written in English;

Reina Whaitiri - writer, researcher and editor - will judge the Best Novel Extract written in English;

Brian Morris - teacher, former principal of Te Aute College and Māori Language Publishing Manager at Huia Publishers - will judge the Best Short Story written in Māori or English by a Secondary School Student.

Judge Sir Mason Durie (pictured) is keen to see the entries for the Best Short Story in English category. ‘A good short story is captivating from start to finish’ says Sir Mason. ‘It has an engaging theme, a rhythmic flow of words, and a capacity to make the ordinary seem quite extraordinary. And, importantly for the Pikihuia Awards, it must be able to resonate with Māori’.

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.

‘The aim of the Pikihuia Awards is to help tell the vast number of Māori stories that aren’t being told and to recognise outstanding work by Māori writers’, says Huia Publisher’s managing director Robyn Bargh.

Together with the Māori Literature Trust, the sponsors of this year’s awards are Huia Publishers, Te Puni Kokiri, Creative New Zealand, The NZ Film Commission, Wickliffe Solutions and D’sign Nation.

The competition closes on 15 April 2013. Entry forms are available online at www.huia.co.nz/pikihuia2013.

Acclaimed Samoan-born novelist Albert Wendt (pictured with Prime Minister John Key) was last night awarded New Zealand's highest literary award - the 2012 Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement for Fiction at Premier House in Wellington.

Albert has been an influential figure in the developments that have shaped New Zealand and Pacific literature since the 1970s, writing numerous works of fiction and several volumes of poetry, and editing notable anthologies of Pacific literature.

Albert Wendt was awarded the 1980 Wattie Book of the Year for 'Leaves of the Banyan Tree' and a Montana Book Award for 'Whetu Moana' in 2004.

He has won the Commonwealth Book Prize for the S-E Asia and Pacific Region twice - first in 1992 with his novel, ‘Ola' and again in 2010 with his novel 'The Adventures of Vela'.

He is acknowledged internationally as one of Samoa's, New Zealand's, and the Pacific's major novelists and poets. He has been an important influence in the development of the indigenous novel around the world, over the past thirty years. His work has been translated into many languages and is read and taught throughout the world.

His most recent book published by Huia Publishers in September 2012 - 'Ancestry' - is a collection of his short stories.

'All of us here at Huia congratulate Albert on his award' said Huia Publishers Managing Director Robyn Bargh. 'We have enjoyed and have been privileged to work with an author of Albert's stature over the last decade'.

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.

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Three years in the making and based on the objects, images and taonga in Puke Ariki's heritage collection, the book captures stories spanning several hundred years and paints a fascinating picture of some of the personalities and events that have made their mark on Taranaki.

'We were looking at different ways to share the collection widely with people; to make it more accessible,' says author Andrew Moffat, the Social History Curator at Puke Ariki. 'So this is not so much a book about a museum collection, but more an historical visitors guide to some of the stories and people of Taranaki.'

Stories and images abound, from the mystery of the Māori wooden tools which defy explanation to the development of the original Swanndri in 1913 by William Broome and the establishment of power in Stratford in 1899, New Zealand's third town to 'power up'. Find out about the discovery and recovery of the abandoned, unfinished totara Pūtikituna waka, which travelled hundreds of kilometres but was never in the water. See the first New Zealand made motorbike helmets - safety tested in ovens, pounded by lead weights and designed by an off-beat model maker. Discover the story of a quiet carpenter who became a gun-toting highwayman before being unmasked during a botched hold-up.

Moffat says most people living in Taranaki will find a connection to at least one story in Flashback. 'One of the things I love about my job is bringing our work to life for the public, to see them make a connection with their history, and that is what we have tried to do with this book.'

Flashback: Tales and Treasures of Taranaki is published by Huia Publishers with the support of the New Plymouth District Council (Puke Ariki) and the Lysaght-Watt Trust. The invitation-only launch was held on Wednesday 5th September 2012 at Puke Ariki, New Plymouth.  Images from launch.

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'Rāhui' won the Russell Clark Award for Illustration which was awarded post-humously to Malcolm Ross. "Malcolm Ross has gifted an aura of another layer of intonation in these paintings that we can only describe as mysteriously manly, a joyous celebration of young men at play, as well as gripped in grief," said judge Ms Walsh.

Alice Heather, convenor of judges for the Te Kura Pounamu, for which the te reo Māori version of Rāhui was shortlisted, said the story tackled a difficult subject matter. "The story is told with respect and aroha without being sentimental. The illustrations open the story up to the future and invite discussion."

'Rāhui' also won the inaugural Librarians' Choice award, voted for by librarians across the country. Ms Walsh said the medal was a chance for the profession to give something back to the best authors in the nation. "We are dedicated to connecting children with books. We wanted to celebrate the authors by gifting our appreciation to one each year from this year forth. Thank you all so much for providing touchstones for young people."

Another HUIA book produced for the Ministry of Education, 'Te Poiwhana' by Te Kauhoe Wano won the Te Tohu Ngā Kete e toru for te wahanga pukapuka paki (fiction), one of four prizes awarded by Te Rōpū Whakahau, the organisation for Māori Librarians. Ms Heather, Māori Advisor for School Services at the National Library in Auckland, said the book, about a soccer-mad boy whose father wants him to play rugby, had a great message for young Māori about following their dreams.

Ms Heather said it was disappointing to see less than half the usual amount of books in te reo Māori entered for the awards. "There weren't any non-fiction titles, which may be due to the lack of Ministry of Education contracts to produce non-fiction for schools. For children to grow up with te reo Māori as their first language it is essential to have the world around them explained in their own language. They need non-fiction books to do this."

Awarded by Librarians for outstanding children's literature in New Zealand, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Awards are for excellence in junior fiction, young adult fiction, illustration, non-fiction and te reo Maori.

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HUIA is an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely Māori or Pacific perspective. For more information, please contact Bill Young on 027-274-1704 or e-mail bill.young@huia.co.nz.

New Zealand Post Book Awards judge and Māori language advisor, Paora Tibble said that as a te reo Māori publication, 'Tōku Reo, Tōku Ohooho' is groundbreaking.

'Chris Winitana mixes traditional language with modern metaphors. He shows te reo Māori as a living language; creating new contexts for words and phrases buried in our not too distant past. His knowledge of te reo is remarkable. With this book, Chris Winitana takes us on the adventure of a lifetime. For 40 years, Māori have fought to revitalise their language. This is their story.'

As Chris describes his work, 'This book weaves together the many independent threads of action undertaken by a great number of people to ensure the survival of the Māori language. It follows the efforts of Māori from 1972 and the petition for the Māori language to bring our language out of the shadows and into the light'.

'Tōku Reo, Tōku Ohooho' is also available in an English edition 'My Language, My Inspiration'.

The New Zealand Post Book of the Year Award winner received $15,000. The Māori Language Award winner and the winners of the four Category Awards each received $10,000 and the People's Choice Award winner $5,000.

Chris attended the awards ceremony with his wife, Tina-Marie, and Robyn and Brian Bargh from HUIA Publishers.

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And, Congratulations to our 6 winning entrants who are;

Tihema Baker

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Ōtaki te awa
Ko Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, ko Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, ko Ngāti Toarangatira ngā iwi.
Nō Ōtaki ahau.
Ko Tihema Baker taku ingoa.

My name is Tihema Baker. I am from Ōtaki but am currently a third year student at Victoria University of Wellington, studying English Literature and Māori Studies. I have been working on a novel for the past three years and I am extremely excited about having the opportunity to continue working on it within the programme. My goal over the next six months is to learn as much as I can and put as much effort as possible into completing this novel.

Whiti Hereaka

Whiti is a playwright, novelist, screenwriter and a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting) from the International Institute of Modern Letters.
In 2007, Whiti was the writer in residence at Randell Cottage in Wellington where she worked on her debut novel, The Graphologist's Apprentice; which was shortlisted for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Asia/Pacific region) 2011. Whiti has also held the Summer residency at the Michael King Writers Centre in 2012 where she worked on her new play, Rewena.
She has had several plays produced in Wellington: Fallow (Tawata Productions 2005), Collective Agreement (Young and Hungry 2005), I Ain't Nothing But/A Glimmer in the Dark She Said (Open Book Productions for STAB 2006), Te Kaupoi (Bush Collective 2010 also performed at the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura) and For Johnny (Young and Hungry, 2011).
Whiti won Best New Play by a Māori Playwright, Adam Play Awards in 2010 for Te Kaupoi and again in 2011 for Rona and Rabbit on the Moon. Her play inspired by the poetry of Rowley Habib - Raw Men - was shortlisted for the Adam New Play award 2012. A reading tour of Raw Men took place in Auckland and Wellington at the end of June 2012.
Whiti is a member of Writers Block, Wellington and is a trustee for Baggage Arts Charitable Trust (BACT).

Goal for Te Papa Tupu
I'm looking forward to starting my second novel - I wasn't sure that I had another novel in me but the idea of Tar Baby and its protagonist Bugs insist on having their story told. I'm sure six months will fly by and I hope that at the end of it I will have a good first draft completed. It is wonderful to be offered a place in Te Papa Tupu - I hope that the support I will receive from the Māori Literature Trust, Huia Publishers, my mentor and other participants will be reflected in Tar Baby. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Kelly Joseph

(Ngāti Maniapoto)
Kelly grew up in Taranaki and currently lives on the Kapiti Coast with her husband and daughter. She is a writer and an artist, with an MA in creative writing from Victoria University and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, USA.

Goal for Te Papa Tupu
My goal during the Te Papa Tupu programme is to complete a collection of short stories.

Joanne Ganley

Joanne Ganley is an aspiring writer. She enjoys mystery/crime fiction and is currently writing a collection of short stories and a novel.

After marriage and a family, she enrolled in a BA (Psychology) at Auckland University, and then moved to the Coromandel where she completed her degree extramurally through Massey University. In 2009 she enrolled in Northland Polytechnic's on-line Diploma in Applied Writing, which enabled her to hone her writing skills and finish her first novel. These days she calls the latter ‘my writing apprenticeship'.

Joanne now lives with her husband just south of Auckland in a quiet rural town. She writes full-time and spends most of her day in a cosy writing den penning her second novel, surrounded by friendly neighbours, native bush and birds, and her indoor cat and writing companion, Toru.

Goal for Te Papa Tupu
Joanne hopes to complete a good draft of her novel by the end of the incubator programme, with a view to being published sometime in the future.

Fred Te Maro

I was born in a little house on the banks of the Waiapu river at a place called Tikapa near Waiomatatini on the 6th. Day of January 1941.

I attended Waiomatatini Native School where English was the only language allowed. (ouch, I still remember the belt when Maori slipped out. How the heck were we to explain the need to go toilet when you did'nt know the language?)
From Waiomatatini to Manutahi Maori District High School at Ruatorea.

After 4 years of secondary and school certificate to my name I left to work on a sheep and cattle station back of Tolaga Bay then away to the bright city lights wherever fancy took me. The one thing I never let go of was the knowledge of who I was, my roots, my language.

 Anya Ngawhare

I'm a Taranaki girl at heart, but I live in Auckland with my family and miniature zoo. A madhouse that's full of unique personalities and practically insulated by cat hair. I haven't done an awful lot with my life so far, but I think that's okay because I'm just barely twenty-one. I have loads of time to act like a grownup, so I'll do it later!

I studied creative writing through NZIBS, and I literally finished my last assignment two days ago. Which is great, because now I get to do something new. Something that allows me to put my new skills to good use. Ambitious as it might seem to some, and those some are clearly people who don't know just how persistent I can be when I want something, I want two novels published by the time I'm twenty-five. Which is doable in my head. What's a little hard work if it gets you your dream?

I'm not the most social person alive, but I do like to make people smile and laugh. I do like seeing happiness in others. I guess that's why I write. Writing makes me happy, more than music even, and I like to share my stories so that I can pass some of that happiness on. A great writer can make a person damn near explode with emotion, and if I can do that to just one person I'd feel like I succeeded. I'd feel like the hard work was worth it.

You will definitley be seeing a lot more from these 6 writers over the coming months so watch this space!

Sam Bunny, a young Māori designer working at HUIA Publishers, has won the Best Educational Book Design award at the Publishers Association of NZ 2012 Book Design Awards for the book 'He Kōrero - Words Between Us' by Alison Jones and Kuni Jenkins.

Of Ngāti Tuwharetoa descent, Sam has been designing at HUIA Publishers for just over a year and has found the work liberating.

"Working at Huia has given me a lot of freedom when it comes to designing" said Sam. "I like to push the boundaries of what is expected to give a different perspective on things."

A graduate of the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawkes Bay, Sam moved to Wellington to work with Capiche Design before moving to HUIA. "I came to Huia with little knowledge of the publishing industry, but this last year I've gained a valuable insight into the discipline and a deeper understanding of book design."

Sam has also worked on other award-winning books at HUIA including 'Rāhui' which won the NZ Post Children's Book Award for Best Picture Book and 'The Scent of Apples' which won a gold medal in the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards (the 'IPPYs') in New York.

Only 23 years of age and at the start of a promising career, Sam is having fun exploring what can be done with graphic design. "What I really enjoy about Huia is being able to collaborate with creative people such as our writers, illustrators, photographers and designers and to see the final outcome".

More of Sam's individual style can be seen at his own website "which I made when I was studying and haven't updated in a while", www.erorr.co.nz.

Might be time to add an Awards heading to the website menu.

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'Rahui' by Chris Szekely and illustrated by Malcolm Ross was named as finalist in the LIANZA Illustration - Russell Clark Award category for the most distinguished pictures or illustrations for a children's book. Rahui was also named as a finalist in the Te Kura Pounamu Te Reo Maori award category awarded to the author of the work which makes a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people written in Te Reo Māori.

A second HUIA book 'Te Poiwhana' by Te Kauhoe Wano and Andrew Burdan produced for the Ministry of Education was also nominated as a finalist in the Te Kura Pounamu Te Reo Maori award.

Awarded by Librarians for outstanding children's literature in New Zealand, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Awards are for excellence in junior fiction, young adult fiction, illustration, non-fiction and te reo Maori.

The 2012 LIANZA Awards will be presented at Cafe L'Affare, College Street, Wellington on 6 August.

The PANZ Book Design Awards also announced their finalists and 'He Korero - Words Between Us' by Alison Jones and Kuni Jenkins and designed by HUIA designer Sam Bunny has been nominated as a finalist in the Best Educational Book Award category.

"This is the first time I've been entered in the PANZ Book Design Awards and it is a real surprise to get nominated so quickly" said Sam.

With well over 100 books submitted to the seven categories, the judges found it difficult to arrive at a shortlist for each category. Judge Jenny Nicholls said the judges looked for consistency of design from front cover to back cover. "The best designs had a sense of play".

The 2012 PANZ Book Design Awards evening will be held at the Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland on 5 July.

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Written by Chris Szekely and beautifully illustrated by the late Malcolm Ross, 'Rāhui' (Huia 2011) was produced in both Māori and English editions.

"Both versions of this beautiful book have a timeless quality, with the story dealing sensitively with the sad drowning of a cousin" said head judge Gillian Candler.

Currently the Chief Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Chris Szekely was pleased with the result. "I am delighted with Rāhui's success, as is Malcolm's family. The publication of Rāhui was a real team effort with great support from Huia Publishers, in particular Sam Bunny's wonderful and sensitive design work" said Chris.

Described as a 'sophisticated picture book', 'Rāhui' has received positive reviews with the NZ Listener calling it "a beautifully produced picture book, combining artwork by Malcolm Ross with a searingly simple text by Chris Szekely... the illustrations transcend cultural boundaries".

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Rāhui (Māori)

Rāhui (English)

'The Scent of Apples' by Jacquie McRae (Huia 2011) has won a gold medal in the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards (the 'IPPYs') in New York.

This international recognition follows on from the book's selection in March by the International Youth Library in Munich for White Ravens 2012 as an outstanding international book for children and young adults.

With over 2000 independent authors and publishers participating from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, The Scent of Apples won gold in the Best Regional Fiction category for New Zealand and Australia.

Based in New York and now in its 16th year, the 'IPPY' Awards were conceived as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry, and are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market.

Recently featured as a Teen Read by NZ Herald's Canvas, The Scent of Apples is Jacquie's first novel.

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Ms Bargh has been the Managing Director of Huia Publishers since 1991, overseeing the publication of books both nationally and internationally, as well as educational resources for kōhanga, kura kaupapa Māori and wharekura. Through her involvement in publishing, she has sought to revitalise the Māori language by identifying and promoting Māori writers and creating Māori language reading, teaching and learning materials.

In 1995, she established the Pikihuia Awards to identify and foster Māori writing talent in both the English and Māori languages. She was a member of the Establishment Group for Māori TV, a trustee of Te Awhiorangi/Te Reo Māori Television Trust and Chair of Taki Rua Productions. She is a Director of the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, Chair of the Māori Literature Trust, and a council member of the Publishers Association of New Zealand.

Ms Bargh also received the Women in Publishing New Venture Award in 1994, the Certificate of Commendation for Best Small Business 1995, presented by Māori Women's Welfare League, the Massey University 75th Anniversary Medal for Distinguished Service 2002 and the Te Waka Toi Te Tohu Toi Kē Award in 2006.

Read more about Robyn Bargh

Read more about HUIA

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.

WINNERS ARE:

Huia Publishers Short Story Award for Best Short Story Written in English
WINNER: Helen Waaka (Waipukurau) for Hine Raumati
Highly Commended: Anahera Gildea (Wellington) for Click Send
Highly Commended: Anita Tipene (Northland) for Te Ahi Ka

Te Pakiwaitara i Te Reo Māori Award for Best Short Story Written in Māori
WINNER: Fred Te Maro (Wellington) for He Toa Pākīwaha
Highly Commended: Erin Thompson-Pou (Rotorua) for Kei Te Wehi Ao, Ko Te Ao Marama
Highly Commended: PJ Akuhata (Gisborne) for Ngā Tinihanga a Māui

Te Puni Kōkiri Novel Extract Award for Best Novel Extract written in English
WINNER: Marama Salsano (Gisborne) for Skin
Highly Commended: Ann French (Tauranga) for Growing Up
Highly Commended: K-T Harrison (Hamilton) for Waiwhetu Wishes

The New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Taonga Award for Best Short Film Script written in English
WINNER: Larissa McMillan (Wellington) for Engraved in Me
Highly Commended: Mike Townsend (Wellington) for Te Ara - The Pathway

Te Waka Toi Secondary School Student Award for Best Short Story written in English by a Secondary School Student
WINNER: Grace Allen (Palmerston North) for Blame
Highly Commended: Maria Murray (Kaitaia) for I Fell from the Sky
Highly Commended: Jayziah Sula (Hawke's Bay) for Nana

Te Waka Toi Secondary School Student Award for Best Short Story written in Māori by a Secondary School Student
WINNER: Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Palmerston North) for Pīwaiwaka
Highly Commended: Kohukohurangi Isaac-Sharland (Palmerston North) for Te Mana o te Wai
Highly Commended: Hori Thompson (Rotorua) for Nau Mai Haere Mai

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.

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

The Storylines Notable Book List was established in 2000 to reflect the wide-ranging achievements of New Zealand authors, illustrators and publishers.

This year over 160 books were considered as part of the judging process. Storylines does not accept nominations for these awards.

The list allows for the inclusion of anthologies and works by New Zealand writers and illustrators published internationally.

Selection is made by a panel of current children's literature professionals, including teachers, librarians, writers and artists. Several have served as judges for the New Zealand and LIANZA children's book awards.

More information on the Notable Books List 2012 can be found at the Storylines website.

The Scent of Apples is one of 250 titles chosen from 40 countries out of thousands of books received from all around the world and will be presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair to be held from 19 - 22 March 2012.

'I'm in awe really, my little book on such a big stage' said Jacquie from her home in Wellsford today. 'I hadn't actually heard of The White Ravens before and I'm just googling it now'.

Just back from the Wellington Writers and Readers Festival, Jacquie said she was inspired at the festival by some of the well-known writers such as Australian writer Kate Grenville. 'Hearing her speak about the long, hard process of writing made me relax and realise that I'm in good company.'

Recently featured as a Teen Read by NZ Herald's Canvas, The Scent of Apples is Jacquie's first novel.

The Bologna Children's Book Fair is the most important international event dedicated to the children's publishing and multimedia industry with about 1200 exhibitors from 66 countries exhibiting in 2012. The International Youth Library in Munich is the largest library for international children's and youth literature in the world.

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

The Whakatane launch of 'He Kōrero - Words Between Us' at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiārangi was hailed as a great success. With around 100 people in attendance and speeches by the MP for Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, and Sir Hirini Moko Mead, both books were well received with waiata and haka.

'He Kōrero - Words Between Us' was launched jointly with 'Te Hapai Ō', another project of Te Awanuiārangi for the NZ Teachers Council which provides a unique induction and mentoring approach to help build the confidence and expertise of beginning teachers employed in Māori-medium settings.

Professor Kuni Jenkins said, "Whakarewa pukapuka is a big step forward for us at the Wananga because these are two major projects that the Wananga has brought to a successful conclusion".

"It'll set the bench mark for future activities".

Pictured (L-R): Brian Ruawai-Hamilton (NZ Teachers Council), Bill Young (Huia Publishers), Kuni Jenkins, Alison Jones, Alison McAlpine (NZ Teachers Council), Peter Lynd (NZ Teachers Council), Sir Hirini Moko Mead, Te Ururoa Flavell (MP, Waiariki)

Rising Talent to the Fore Among Awards Finalists

Emerging authors and illustrators have made every category of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards this year - competing alongside well-known names for top honours. Finalists were announced today by Gillian Candler, convenor of judges for the Awards.
"The judges were excited to see the emergence of talented new writers and illustrators, with each category having at least one new author or illustrator short-listed." In selecting the finalists, the judges consider not just the content, the story and illustrations, but also the quality of production. "We're looking for great quality books that will grab children and make them want to read and the judging panel unanimously agree each of this year's finalists do exactly that." For the first time this year, a Young Adult Graphic Novel - Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang - is a finalist in the Picture Book category which is generally dominated by books for the very young. Ms Candler stated that the judging criteria mean that illustrated books are judged in either the Picture Book or Non-Fiction categories.

The finalists were selected from more than 130 children's books published in New Zealand in 2011 and submitted for the awards. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Wednesday 16 May.
Ms Candler, an independent publishing and education consultant is joined on the judging panel by two other children's literature experts: school curriculum advisor, librarian and bookseller Annemarie Florian and award-winning writer and illustrator Bob Kerr.
As well as winners in each category, the judges will also decide which author will earn the New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year prize.

The finalists in the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards are:

Picture Book
The Cat's Pyjamas by Catherine Foreman (Scholastic New Zealand)
Rāhui (Māori version) by Chris Szekely and illustrated by Malcolm Ross (Huia Publishers)
Rāhui (English version) by Chris Szekely and illustrated by Malcolm Ross (Huia Publishers)
Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang (HarperCollins Publishers)
Stomp! By Ruth Paul (Scholastic New Zealand)
Waiting for Later by Tina Matthews (Walker Books Australia) 

Non-fiction
Digging Up The Past: Archaeology For The Young & Curious by David Veart (Auckland University Press)
Kimble Bent: Malcontent by Chris Grosz (Random House New Zealand)
The Life Cycle of the Tuatara by Betty Brownlie (Scholastic New Zealand)
New Zealand Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis by Maria Gill and illustrated by Bruce Potter (New Holland Publishing)
Nice Day for a War: Adventures of a Kiwi Soldier in World War l by Matt Elliott and illustrated by Chris Slane (HarperCollins Publishers)

Junior Fiction
The Flytrap Snaps by Johanna Knox and illustrated by Sabrina Malcolm (Hinterland Press)
Just Jack by Adele Broadbent (HarperCollins Publishers)
The Loblolly Boy & the Sorcerer by James Norcliffe (Random House New Zealand)
Super Finn by Leonie Agnew (Scholastic New Zealand)
The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else (Gecko Press)

Young Adult Fiction
The Bridge by Jane Higgins (Text Publishing Company)
Calling the Gods by Jack Lasenby (HarperCollins Publishers)
Dirt Bomb by Fleur Beale (Random House New Zealand)
Sacrifice by Joanna Orwin (HarperCollins Publishers)
Yes by Deborah Burnside (HarperCollins Publishers)

Children's Choice Award
Voting for the Children's Choice Award begins today. Long considered one of the highest accolades a children's author can receive, this award is voted on by children of school age from all over New Zealand. Vote online at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz or by using the special voting card available from bookshops, libraries or schools. Voting closes at 5.00pm, Friday 27 April.

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Festival
Finalists will participate in children's book events around the country as part of a nationwide celebration of the New Zealand Post Book Awards. The festivities, which are a huge favourite with kids all over the country, begin on Monday 7 May and continue through to Wednesday 16 May.

Sponsors
New Zealand Post is proud to be principal sponsor of the New Zealand Book Awards and the Children's Book Awards. New Zealand Post is committed to promoting and assisting literacy in our communities and supporting excellence in literature, and to actively encouraging New Zealanders to read and enjoy books. Additional funding for the Awards is provided by Creative New Zealand. The Awards are overseen by the New Zealand Post Book Awards Governance Group, administered by Booksellers NZ and including representatives of the New Zealand Society of Authors, The Publishers Association of New Zealand, New Zealand Post and Creative New Zealand.

Key dates:
• 27 April 2012 Children's Choice Award VOTING CLOSES
• 7-15 May 2012 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards - FESTIVAL WEEK
• 16 May New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

ENDS
For interview opportunities, review copies, images of finalist authors and their books, promotional giveaways or further information please contact: Penny Hartill, Hartill Communications Ltd: 09 445 7525, 021 721 424, phartill@xtra.co.nz

www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz

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

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.

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.