Media release: Tuesday 11 August, 2009
Contributions to children’s literature in Te Reo Māori recognised
The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards, managed by the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, were
awarded last night at a ceremony hosted by Caffe L’affare in Wellington.
The recipient of the Te Kura Pounamu Award, established in 1995 for the most distinguished contribution to literature
for children or young people written in Te Reo Māori , was Peti Nohotima for her novel Mihiroa, put out by a new
publisher, He Kupenga Hao I te Reo.
Alice Heather, Convenor of the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu judging panel said “this is the first time a novel has won this
award and we are delighted to select Mihiroa as an example of a top quality, engaging te reo Maori fiction written for
young teenagers”.
“This is an exceptional novel for its descriptive narrative and one that sets the benchmark for fictional writing for
this age group” Ms Heather said.
Four new awards originally used for Māori Language Week have been re-introduced by Te Ropu Whakahau, the organisation
uniting Maori librarians and information specialists, to enable the recognition of both nonfiction and fiction across
all age levels as part of Te Kura Pounamu award.
The taonga were originally donated by the Wellington LIANZA Region; Buddy Tainui of Ngai Tahu & Aoraki LIANZA Region; Palmerston North City Libraries and the fourth award was donated in remembrance of Hoani Te
Whatahoro Jury.
Te Tohu Hoani Te Whatuhoro Jury mō te wahanga pukapuka pono was awarded to James Te Tuhi and Ross Gregory for their
nonfiction title Toheroa published by Huia.
Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira was awarded the Te Tohu Pounamu m te wahanga Kaiwhakamaori for her translation of Hinemoa te
Toa published by Scholastic.
The recipient of the Te Tohu Taurapa mō te wahanga Pukapuka Pikitia best picture book, was Tim Tipene for Hinemoa te
Toa.
Te Tohu Nga Kete e toru mō te wahanga Pukapuka Paki, the fiction award was also awarded to Peti Nohotima for Mihiroa.
Also awarded last night were; the Esther Glen Award to Fleur Beale for her young adult novel Juno of Taris (Random
House), Robyn Belton received the Russell Clark Award for Herbert: The Brave Sea Dog (Craig Potton Publishing) and
Veronika Meduna and Rebecca Priestly were the recipients of the Elsie Locke Award for Atoms, Dinosaurs and DNA (Random
House).
Together the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards celebrate the unique contribution New Zealand authors and illustrators make
to our cultural heritage and national identity.
//ends