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, 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, and edited books on the arts and culture. 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 to him in Italy in 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 of Ngāti Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga and Ngāti Maniapoto descent. Paraone 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 customs. He and his wife, Ngāhuia Kopa, are the tutors and leaders of the kapa haka group Motai Tangata Rau. Paraone is known for his skill in composition and for establishing the Mahuru Māori initiative, a project that promotes the speaking of the Māori language in everyday life, not just during the month of Mahuru. He finished his work for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2021, after 17 years there. He continues to run a weekly online resource called Taringa, managed by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, which is a bilingual resource for learning words, stories of the people, and customs.

Ruth Smith Ruth Smith is of Te Tai Rawhiti descent, but grew up with the iwi of her grandfather, Ngāti Kōhuru within Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki. She is an “Ika-a-Whiro” (graduate) 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 tutor 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 Māori radio stations. She is a performer and a singer for her local iwi. She is passionate about the Māori language and its customs, and seeks to promote the language through teaching, translation, broadcasting, and mentoring. In 2022, Ruth translated Witi Ihimaera’s popular book Puripaha Te Pane Kaewa.

Corin Merrick Corin Merrick is of Ngāti Whare, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, and Ngāti Raukawa descent. She is a graduate of Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori, and an “Ika-a-Whiro” of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo. She is a barrister and solicitor, and also a consultant on various matters. She works in Family Court as a lawyer for children and also as a litigation lawyer. She represents young people 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 supporting their community.

Ariana Stevens Ariana Stevens is from Te Tai Poutini, with Ngāti Waewae as her hapū and Ngāi Tahu as her iwi. The Te Ātaarangi method nurtured Ariana’s language skills when she was young in the northern part of Te Waka. Gradually, she became involved in language revitalisation efforts under the umbrella of Kotahi Mano Kāika. Ariana is an “Ika-a-Whiro” of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, and has graduated from Te Toi Reo Māori as a language translator. Over the years, Ariana has taught in schools, the community, on the marae, and in businesses. Her primary role currently is leading her team at Reo Māori Mai. They are implementing the education and language strategy for Ngāti Waewae.

Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham Te Ahunui Donovan Farnham is of Ngāti Awa and Tūhoe descent. He is a product of Kohanga Reo, Auckland Central Language Immersion Centres, and Waipapa Taumata Rau, all of which carry the Māori language. He is an “Ika-a-Whiro” of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, and a graduate of Te Toi Reo Māori as a translator, editor, and language communicator. He has also recently graduated from Te Tohu Paerua o te Reo Kairangi under the auspices of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Te Ahunui has worked for 10 years as a teacher in Kura Kaupapa and Immersion schools. He has also taught NCEA subjects.

Wawaro Te Whaiti Wawaro Te Whaiti is of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitāne ki Wairarapa, and Kai Tahu descent. In 2002, he graduated from the College of Education, Wellington, as a teacher. He has taught in kohanga reo, mainstream schools, and Kura Kaupapa in Wellington and the Manawatū region. He is an “Ika-a-Whiro” of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, and a graduate of Te Toi Reo, and has worked 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 learning environments and homes. Wawaro has also been involved in supporting the teaching of the Māori language to teachers through the Te Ahu o te Reo Māori programme under Takatu. Currently, in addition to these roles, he is also supporting the reform of the NCEA programme in Aotearoa. Māori language, Māori knowledge, Māori culture, and the Māori person are at the forefront of all his work.

Hemi Kelly Hemi Kelly is of Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tahu, and Ngāti Whāoa descent. 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 Māori. Hemi is an “Ika-a-Whiro” of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, and has been awarded Te Toi Reo Māori, the translator qualification. In 2017, Hemi translated Witi Ihimaera’s book Sleeps Standing, and Paulo Coelho’s Te Ruanuku was his second translated book. His first original creative writing in English is included in the book Purakau – a collection of Māori legends by various Māori authors.

Paiheretia Aperahama Paiheretia Aperahama is of Te Aupouri, Muriwhenua, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, and Te Āti Awa descent. He is a written language translator, a Māori language tutor, and a language advocate. He owes his skills and achievements to his elders and parents. The Māori world is his sustenance, day and night.

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

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