Te Whaea o te Motu

David Hill (Author)

David Hill is a prolific and highly regarded New Zealand writer, playwright, poet, columnist and critic. Best known for his highly popular and award-winning body of work for young people, ranging from picture books to teenage fiction, his novels have been published all around the world and translated into several languages, and his short stories and plays for young people have been broadcast here and overseas. In November 2021 David was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement - Fiction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to New Zealand Literature. He lives in New Plymouth with his wife Beth.

Story Hemi-Morehouse (Illustrator)

Story Hemi-Morehouse (Ngati Koata, Ngati Kuia, Ngati Toa Rangatira) was born in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) and moved to Australia when she was young. She was always obsessed with comics and drawing and turned her love of illustrating into a career. Story’s first published book, Mokopuna Matatini/The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth by Pania Tahau-Hodges, was shortlisted for four awards in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2022. She has since added several more picture books to her portfolio and in 2023 Kua Wheturangitia a Koro/How My Koro Became a Star, with author Brianne Te Paa, was a finalist in the Best Picture Book and won Te Kura Pounamu Award. Story divides her time between Whanganui-a-tara (Wellington) and Yugumbeh Country (Gold Coast, Australia) thanks to the flexibilty of freelance work.

Stacey Morrison (Translator)

Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngai Tahu) is a radio and TV broadcaster whose projects have spanned 25 years. She is also an author and a licensed translator of te reo Maori. Stacey and her husband Scotty co-wrote Maori at Home to help other families use te reo in everyday settings, and Stacey’s first children’s book, My First Words in Maori, became a number-one bestseller. She has since co-authored Kia Kaha- A storybook of Maori who changed the world with Jeremy Sherlock, which won NZ Booklover’s Best Children’s Book and a Storylines Notable Non-fiction Award and My First Words about Tikanga Maori.