Pānui 2# Tui, tui, tui, tuhia!
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi kaituhi tātou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Following our first Pānui of 12 March, Ngā Kaituhi Māori are thrilled to announce the programme for the forthcoming third hui at Poho-o-Rāwiri marae, Gisborne, 9-12 October 2025.
REGISTRATION PORTAL
Our registration portal is now open for your registration. Please note that for accommodation, catering, transport and conference seating purposes we are offering places at the hui for 50 guests maximum. Your registration will guarantee your place. Click the link to register Claire, please insert the link. Upon successful completion of your registration, you will be issued with a receipt. At the hui, your name tag will secure your admission to all sessions and meals (other than the Saturday evening fundraising dinner).
THREE TYPES OF REGISTRATION
There are three types of registration:
Hui Registration: $70.00 Total includes 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners (excluding fundraiser dinner), 3 lunches, coffee and tea
Hui plus Marae Accommodation: $130.00 Total inclusive of your Hui Registration plus 3 nights of accommodation at the marae (sheets provided, byo towels and bedding)
Student (Under 20) Hui Registration only: $50.00.
As noted, places are limited so please register early to avoid disappointment.
WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW:
THE DRAFT PROGRAMME 9-12 OCTOBER!
We are making the draft programme available early so you can organise your travel arrangements. If you are coming by car there is ample parking behind the marae. If you are arriving by plane, it’s a quick taxi ride to the marae.
You will notice we have a fantastic line-up, and a variety of events planned already. We will be featuring guest write ups in each of our panui. However, please bear in mind that this is a draft programme prepared months in advance and changes may be made. For instance, we are still negotiating for other major writers to appear. Watch this space!
Arrival Day Thurs 9th
4.pm Pōwhiri at Poho-o-Rāwiri
4.30 – 5.15 Welcome from Marae
5.15 Registration, beds down & Whakawhanaungatanga
6.30 pm DINNER & Info session
8.30 pm Paula Morris, Tania Roxborogh, Renee Iosefa, Shelley Burne-Field, Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu, Te Paea Maurirere, Mairātea Mohi and Nadia Solomon are so far lined up to read from their work and kōrero about the pre-eminent role of women in Māori literature
Day 1 Fri 10th
6.am Karakia and walk up Titirangi to see the 6.30 Kaiti Sunrise across beautiful Turanganui-a-Kiwa
7.am-8.30 am Breakfast
9.am-12 pm Excursion to Rongopai marae, Waituhi, with Witi Ihimaera & Haare Williams (30 places in two vans, everyone else travels by private transport), morning tea with the locals and a spontaneous “Write what you experience, or a reflection on your own marae” exercise while you are in Waituhi
For those not going to Waituhi, we will be organising three Discussion Groups on Writing Poetry, Children’s Literature and Fiction
12.30 pm–1.30 pm Lunch at Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae
2.pm Rangatahi Speak – Te Paea Maurirere, Nadia Solomon, Liam Wallace, Mairātea Mohi and others on “What is the world of Rangatahi Writers and what do Rangatahi Writers want?”
4.pm-5pm Rangatahi roast Witi Ihimaera – a 360 degree interview
6.30 pm Kai and Kōrero Open Mike Readings from local Gisborne writers)
8.pm Drum roll…
We are lucky to have our star speaker, historian and successful Tairāwhiti novelist, Monty Soutar, arriving back from a busy week on Waitangi Tribunal business, to talk to us about his third and forthcoming novel from his famous Kāwai trilogy and on life & writing. A not-to-be-missed event
Day 2 Sat 11 Oct:
7.00 – 8.30 Breakfast
9. am Excursion to Ngātapa Marae, site of a major conflict during the Te Kooti Wars, with Witi Ihimaera & Haare Williams (30 places in two vans, everyone else travels by private transport), morning tea with the locals and a spontaneous “Reflection Writing Exercise” on a significant event in your own tribal history
For those not going to Ngātapa, a continuation of yesterday’s three Discussion Groups on Writing Poetry, Children’s Literature and Fiction
12.30 Lunch at Poho-o-Rāwiri
2.pm Interview with Shelley Burne-Field by Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu. They will discuss how you go about building a writing career
2.40 pm Rangatahi open forum – Shelley asks – what would you like to know?
3.30 pm Regina de Wolf-Ngārimu will talk about the funded eBook to be published of work submitted by attendees at the Hui& invite Submissions.
6.30 pm The GET YOUR BEST GEAR ON AND CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE AT THE DRINKS & FUNDRAISER DINNER: ‘East Coast’ Flash Ticketed Event $70.00
Waiata & Drinks-Buffet Dinner-Entertainment -Dessert – Tatou tatou
Special Guest Readers & Singers
The funds raised will benefit future literary events planned for Turanganui-a-Kiwa.
Day 3 Sun 12 Oct:
7.30–8.30 am Breakfast
8.30 am Pack up beds
9 am Morning: Wananga session at Poho-o-Rawiri Marae
Open Admission. Panel discussion between Sir Haare Williams, Witi Ihimaera, Paula Morris, Perena Quinlivan, Renee Iosefa, Tania Roxborogh and Mairātea Mohi on writing for the future, for the mokopuna. They will discuss where Māori writing is heading, where it should be going, where the gaps are, how will we build capacity to reach each other.
To be followed by a mediated one-hour open forum on issues raised in the kōrero.
Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu & Cain Kerehoma moderators. In te reo and English.
11.30 -12.30 pm Workshop Breakout – Planning your own writing – We want you to leave with your own personal plan of what you will accomplish between now and the next hui.
12.30 pm Lunch
Poroporoaki
Close Sir Haare will lead our closing karakia.
Notes:
Everyone is welcome to stay for another week of writing events – book yourself a writer’s holiday in Gisborne to feed your creative soul!
You will notice that Ngā Kaituhi Māori now has a logo. It comprises two components: a feathered quill, representing Māori writers and writing, and the words “Ngā Kaituhi Māori” in a cupped shape embracing the quill. The quill further represents the feathers of ngā manu and the buoyancy that feathers give to flight, the buoyancy of imagination and what writing feels like when we achieve free flight and our words leave the page. The words “Ngā Kaituhi Māori” are a shortened version of our full name, Te Kāhui o Ngā Kaituhi Māori, The Collective of Māori Writers. As a Collective we offer support to the floating quill. A whakataukī that aligns with our mission statement is: Hutia te rito o te harakeke, kei hea te komako e ko?” Ngā Kaituhi Māori hopes to provide, along with others, an atamira from which the feather can lift, dance and inscribe its words in te reo and English for the future.
Witi Ihimaera (Chair), Sir Haare Williams, Perena Quinlivan, Paula Morris, Renee Iosefa, Craig Fransen
Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu & Polly Crawford
