Pounamu Pounamu - Te reo Maori edition

Witi Ihimaera was the first Māori to publish both a book of short stories and a novel. He has since published many notable novels, collections of short stories, and in 2020 released his substantial non-fiction work, Navigating the Stars. Described by Metro magazine as ‘Part oracle, part memoralist,’ and ‘an inspired voice, weaving many stories together,’ Ihimaera has also written for stage and screen, including libretti, edited books on the arts and culture, and published various works for children.

His first book, Pounamu, Pounamu, has not been out of print since its first publication in 1972. His works have received many awards, such as the Wattie Book of the Year Award and the Montana Book Award, and most recently the Ockham Award for best non-fiction in 2016 for his first volume of memoir, Maori Boy. The second volume, Native Son, was published in 2019, the same year Purakau was released, which he co-edited. Editing volumes celebrating the work of other writers has also been an important part of Witi’s focus.

He has also had careers in diplomacy, teaching, theatre, opera, film, and television. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to literature, including the inaugural Star of Oceania Award (University of Hawaii), a laureate award from the New Zealand Arts Foundation (2009), the Toi Maori Maui Tiketike Award (2011), and the Premio Ostana International Award (presented in Italy, 2010). In 2004, he became a Distinguished Companion of the Order of New Zealand. In 2017, France made him Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in the same year, he received the NZ Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement.

Translators

Paraone Gloyne Paraone Gloyne is a descendant of Ngati Raukawa ki Wharepuhunga and Ngati Maniapoto. He is known as a composer, orator, and performer. He lives in Te Awamutu. He has long been an advocate for the revival of the Māori language and culture. He and his wife, Ngahuia Kopua, are the teachers and leaders of the kapa haka group Motai Tangata Rau.

Paraone is known for his skill in composing and for establishing the Mahuru Māori initiative, which promotes the speaking of the Māori language in daily life, not just during the month of Mahuru. He finished his work for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2021 after 17 years. He continues to run a weekly online programme called Taringa, managed by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, which is a bilingual platform for exploring Māori words, stories, and customs.

Ruth Smith Ruth Smith is a descendant of the wider Te Tai Rawhiti region, but she was raised by the people of her grandfather, Ngati Kohuru within Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki. She is an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo and a graduate of Te Toi Reo, and has long worked as a language translator.

She has worked as a Māori language teacher at Toi Houkura—School of Māori Visual Arts, at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. She has also worked as a broadcaster for Māori Television and various Māori radio stations. She is a performer and a claimant for her local iwi. She is passionate about the Māori language and its customs and strives to promote the language through teaching, translation, broadcasting, and advocacy. In 2022, Ruth translated Witi Ihimaera’s renowned book Puripaha Te Pane Kaewa.

Corin Merrick Corin Merrick is a descendant of Ngati Whare, Waikato, Ngati Maniapoto, and Ngati Raukawa. She is a grandchild of Kohanga Reo, a graduate of Kura Kaupapa Māori, and an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo. She is a qualified lawyer and also advises on many matters. She works in the Family Court as a lawyer for children and also as a caregiver’s lawyer. She represents youth in the Youth Court.

In 2019, Corin and Alana Thomas published the book Kia Kakano Rua Te Ture—A Māori Language Handbook for the Law. Corin lives in South Auckland with her children and her partner, who is also a lawyer, and they are involved in community initiatives.

Ariana Stevens Ariana Stevens is from Te Tai Poutini; her hapu is Ngati Waewae and her iwi is Ngai Tahu. The Māori language was nurtured in her from a young age in the northern part of Te Waipounamu. She became involved in language revitalisation under the guidance of Kotahi Mano Kaika. Ariana is an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo and a graduate of Te Toi Reo Maori, qualifying as a translator.

Over the years, Ariana has been a teacher in schools, in the community, on the marae, and in businesses. Her current main role is leading her team at Reo Māori Mai. They are implementing the education and language strategy for Ngati Waewae.

Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham Te Ahunui Donovan Farnham is a descendant of Ngati Awa and Tuhoe. He is a product of Kohanga Reo, Māori language immersion programmes in Auckland, and Waipapa Taumata Rau, all of which use Māori as their primary language of instruction. He is an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, and a graduate of Te Toi Reo Maori, qualifying as a translator, interpreter, and language converter. He has recently completed Te Tohu Paerua o te Reo Kairangi under Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Te Ahunui has been working as a teacher in Kura Kaupapa Māori and immersion schools for 10 years. He has also taught NCEA subjects.

Wawaro Te Whaiti Wawaro Te Whaiti is a descendant of Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane ki Wairarapa, and Kai Tahu. He graduated as a teacher from Ako Pai College in Wellington in 2002. He has taught in kohanga reo, mainstream schools, and kura kaupapa in the Wellington region and the Manawatu district. He is an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo and a graduate of Te Toi Reo, and has been working as a language translator for over a decade. He is passionate about producing resources to support children and their families in learning and strengthening the speaking of the Māori language in educational settings and homes. Wawaro has also been involved in supporting the teaching of Māori to teachers through the Te Ahu o te Reo Māori programme under Takatu. Currently, in addition to these activities, he is supporting the reform of the NCEA programme in Aotearoa. Māori language, Māori knowledge, Māori culture, and the Māori person are at the heart of all his work.

Hemi Kelly Hemi Kelly is a descendant of Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Tahu, and Ngati Whaoa. He is a Māori language teacher, author, and translator. He wrote the books A Māori Word A Day and A Māori Phrase A Day. He is also the creator of the learning resources for Everyday Maori. Hemi is an Ika-a-Whiro of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo and holds the Toi Reo Maori, the qualification for translators. In 2017, Hemi translated Witi Ihimaera’s book Sleeps Standing, and Paulo Coelho’s Te Ruanuku was the second book he translated. His first creative writing piece in English is included in the book Purakau, a collection of Māori legends by various Māori authors.

Paiheretia Abraham Paiheretia Abraham is a descendant of Te Aupouri, Muriwhenua, Ngati Tuwharetoa, and Te Atiawa. He is a written language translator, a Māori language teacher, and a language pou (pillar). He attributes his achievements to his elders and his parents. The Māori world is his passion, day and night.

Herea Winitana Herea Winitana is of the iwi of Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Te Aupouri, Maniapoto, and Te Arawa, but his umbilical cord was buried with Ngati Tuwharetoa. He is one of eight children of Chris Winitana and Tinamaree Kaipara.

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