| The winners of the Pikihuia Awards for short stories were announced last Saturday at Te Wharewaka o P?neke. On a wet Wellington afternoon wh?nau, friends and supporters of M?ori literature and arts came together to celebrate and acknowledge the success of 23 M?ori writers. The judges had the important job of selecting the winners in six categories: First-time Writer, Emerging Writer and Published Writer, in te Reo M?ori or English. They were impressed by the confidence in the writing, the diversity of stories, and the courage of the entrants to submit and share their stories. ‘There was a confidence in the writing this year — writers who knew how to create vivid worlds and characters which created engaging stories. I was excited by the writers who were willing to push the boundaries of what a short story can be,’ says judge Whiti Hereaka. First-time judge Carol Hirschfeld said, ‘It was incredibly exciting to be included. It’s clear a new generation of confident, young M?ori storytellers are emerging and they are speaking with authenticty and authority. I look forward to seeing how they challenge our literary assumptions here in Aotearoa.’ Many of the writers used their stories to speak about significant social issues such as identity, colonisation, sexual abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. The winning stories were memorable and beautifully told with authentic characters. ‘I chose the stories that burrowed into my mind — the characters I couldn’t shake, the ones that kept coming back days after I had read their stories,’ says Whiti Hereaka. The Pikihuia Awards is part of a staircase programme organised by the M?ori Literature Trust – Te Waka Taki K?rero to nurture and grow M?ori writers. ‘One of the winners [today] spoke of finding her voice in writing when education failed her. That is the kind of breakthrough this work highlights,’ said Carol Hirschfeld. All finalists and selected entries from the competition have been published in the book Huia Short Stories 13 which was also launched at the awards ceremony. All winners and finalists receive a monetary prize as well. The writers published in Huia Short Stories 13 at the 2019 Pikihuia Awards ceremony. The winners and highly commended writers for each categories are as follows: First-time writer in te reo M?ori, judged by Scotty Morrison Winner: Whakaurup? Taku Aroha by Amiria Stirling (Te Wh?nau-a-Apanui), Wellington Highly commended: Para Pounamu by Pine Campbell (Ng?ti Porou, Ng?ti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa), Tokomaru Bay Tangaroa P?kanohi Nui! by Hineteahurangi Mere Nape Durie-Ngata (Ng?ti Kauwhata, Te Aitanga-?-Hauiti, Ng?ti Porou, Rangit?ne), Palmerston North First-time writer in English, judged by Robyn Bargh Winner: White Sheep by Penny Smits (Ng?puhi, Te Rawara, Urban M?ori, Aboriginal Bunganditj –Poturuwutj/Tatiara), Melbourne, Australia Highly commended: Murray’s Special Day, by Tracey Andersen (Ng?ti Porou), Richmond N? te Uku – From the Clay by Bronwyn Te Koeti (Kai Tahu), Timaru Emerging writer in te reo M?ori, judged by Tuehu Harris Winner: Tiakina! Tiakina! by T?ahomarama Fairhall (Te Arawa, Mataatua), Rotorua Emerging writer in English, judged by Whiti Hereaka Winner: Aunty’s Teeth by Annette Morehu (Te Aup?uri, T?hoe), ?r?kei Highly commended: Tunneling by Cassandra Barnett (Raukawa, Ng?ti P?keh?), Wellington Tina’s Coming on Tuesday by Lauren Keenan (Te ?tiawa), Wellington Published writer in te reo M?ori, judged by Poia Rewi Winner: Te Kur? H?roki o te ?poro Nui by Zeb Nicklin (P?hauwera, T?hoe, T?manuhiri, Rangit?ne), Palmerston North Highly commended: Ko te Ao t? Marae by H?mi Kelly (Ng?ti Maniapoto) Auckland Te Kai a te Rangatira by Zeb Nicklin Published writer in English, judged by Carol Hirschfeld Winner: K?kiri ki Mua – Charge Forward by K M Harris (Ng?puhi, Ng?ti T?wharetoa ki Kawerau, Te Arawa, Ng?ti Awa, Ng?ti Porou), Wainuiomata Highly commended: Rocket Ships, Pyjamas and Plum Jam and Mumsy by Olivia Giles (Te ?ti Awa, Ng?ti Raukawa, Ng?ti Kahungunu, Te Hau Nui-a-P?p?rangi, Te Wh?nau-a-Apanui), ?taki Additional stories in Huia Short Stories 13: Botched by Marino-Moana Begman Storked by Paipa Edmonds My Three Friends at School by Josh Hema The Pledge by Nadine Anne Hura Dust by Kelly Joseph The School of Life by Lauren Keenan Just Holden Together by Colleen Maria Lenihan One of the Good Ones by Moira Lomas The Guises of Death Kahuru Pumipi The Bartender by Michelle Rahurahu Scott The Pikihuia Awards would not be possible without the unwavering support of the two major sponsors Creative New Zealand and Huia Publishers. The M?ori Literature Trust – Te Waka Taki K?rero ‘E tuhi, mai i te ao M?ori ki te ao wh?nai’ is the Trusts’ moemoe? (vision) and translates to ‘Taking New Zealand literature with a strong M?ori voice to the world’. Established in 2000, the Trust deliver programmes that promote and foster M?ori literature and encourage M?ori writers to stand tall and support each other to become a strong force in the literary community of Aotearoa. |
