A wide range of books have been named as finalists in Massey University's Ngā Kupu Ora Awards: Celebrating Māori Books and Journalism.
Internationally-acclaimed Māori writer, Patricia Grace has written her first book in ten years titled Chappy . The book, a finalist in the Creative Writing section, is a love story between a young man's Māori grandmother and Japanese grandfather.
Finalists for the Te Reo Māori section include broadcaster Scotty Morrison's latest book Māori Made Easy, He Iti Kahurangi by Hēni Jacob and Toitū Te Whare, an edited collection of articles from 10 reo academics at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiārangi.
Massey University Māori language lecturer and judge Darren Joseph says it's exciting to see Māori language books for every level of fluency.
"All three finalists in Te Reo Māori were topical for different reasons: increasing Māori language speakers; improving Māori language speech and recording Māori language and cultural activities."
In all, there are 13 finalists spread over five categories, which include Te Kōrero o Mua/Te Haurongo- History/Biography and Te Mahi Toi- Arts.
University Assistant Vice Chancellor Māori and Pasifika Dr Selwyn Katene says 2016 marks a milestone for the awards, which are now in their eighth year. “The expansion of the awards to include journalism means we can truly celebrate Māori storytelling in its many forms and further promote Ngā Kupu Ora’s original kaupapa of recognising excellence in Māori books and now journalism.” Dr Katene says.
Finalists for the 2016 Māori Book Awards are;
Te Mahi Toi - Arts
Title: Māori Art: History, Architecture, Landscape and Theory
Author: Rangihiroa Panoho.
Publisher: Bateman Publishing
Title: In Pursuit of Venus
Author: Lisa Reihana
Publisher: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Title: Toi Awe, Toi Iro, Toi Hanga, Toi Hua
Editor: Kereti G. Rautangata
Publisher Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa
Te Kōrero o Mua/Te Haurongo – History/Biography
Title: Maiea Te Tupua
Author: Tom Roa, Maehe Paki
Publisher: Pirongia: Pūrekireki Marae
Title: Te Whiti o Rongomai and the Resistance of Parihaka
Author: Danny Keenan
Publisher: Huia Publishers
Te Tuhinga Auaha - Creative Writing
Title: Chappy
Author: Patricia Grace
Publisher: Penguin Books NZ
Title: Waitapu
Author: Helen Margaret Waaka
Publisher: Escalator Press
Te Kōrero Pono - Non-Fiction
Title: Te Mahi Māra Hua Parakore: A Māori Sovereignty Food Handbook
Author: Jessica Hutchings
Publisher: Te Tākupu Publications
Title: Wayfinding Leadership: Ground-breaking Wisdom for Developing Leaders
Author: Dr Chellie Spiller, Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and John Panoho
Publisher: Huia Publishers
Title: Working with Māori children with special education
needs
Author: Jill Bevan-Brown, Mere Berryman, Huhana Hickey,
Sonja Macfarlane, Kirsten Smiler and Tai Walker
Publisher: NZCER Press
Te Reo Māori – Māori Language
Title: Māori Made Easy: For Everyday Learners of the Māori
Language
Author: Scotty Morrison
Publisher: Penguin Books NZ
Title: He Iti Kahurangi
Author: Hēni Jacob
Publisher: Te Tākupu Publications
Title: Toitū Te Whare
Author: Agnes McFarland, Taiarahia Black
Publisher: NZCER Press
The winners of the book and journalism categories will be announced at the awards dinner at the Auckland Museum Event Centre on October 3.