2025 Pikihuia Awards Finalists

By Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust | Posted: Monday Aug 04, 2025

Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Pikihuia Awards celebrating first-time and emerging Māori writers in te reo Māori and English. This year’s finalists were selected from a total of 145 entries across all categories showcasing a high quality of powerful, resonant storytelling.

Poetry - te reo Māori, judged by Hēmi Kelly

• Te Aomihia Kaipara (Ngāti Naho, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe) for Kia ū,kia mau!’

• Atakohu Middleton (Waikato) for Te Taniwha Tupuarangi

• Mokena Potae Reedy (Ngāti Porou) for He oriori koiora moana

• Aperahama Te Kapua-I-Waho Hurihanganui (Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Te Tai Rāwhiti) for Taku moko kēnge

• Aperahama Te Kapua-I-Waho Hurihanganui (Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Te Tai Rāwhiti) for Te Matatini

• Aperahama Te Kapua-I-Waho Hurihanganui (Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Te Tai Rāwhiti) for Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII

Poetry - English, judged by Tayi Tibble

• Marama Salsano (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Wairere) for Calabashes in My Mouth

• Janet-Liee Pihama (Taranaki, Te Ātiawa) for Miriama

• Jessica Hinerangi Kathleen Thompson-Carr (Ngāpuhi, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) for Tīpuna Go Fishing to Catch Another Mokopuna

• Dianne Grennell (Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāi Tahu) for Asking for My Mokopuna

• Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa) for Skin

• Shona Barnett (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Huri, Pikitu Marae) for Seeding

Short Story - te reo Māori, judged by Maiki Sherman

• Atakohu Middleton (Waikato) for Ko Tōku Tuakana Hou

• Hāwea Apiata (Ngāti Kura, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Toarangatira) for Te tohunga me te pirihi

• Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu) for Te Hapori Whanokē

• Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu) for He Kōrero Parāoa

Short Story - English, judged by Carol Hirschfeld

• Toni Pivac-Hohaia (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pūkenga) for Paradise Duck

• Anthony Mokena Tuhorouta Kohere (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Muaūpoko, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) for L!PSTICK CALLS

• Mark Horsefield (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Rehia) for The Sea Within

• Shelley Burne-Field(Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa) for When the River is Ready

Tauira Short Story Award - English, judged by Mike Ross

• Boyd Kahu Archibald (Ngāti Moeahu, Parihaka, Taranaki Iwi) for Woman of the Water

• Sarah Rose Mautoka Wilson (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou) for Twilight's Wake

• Nina Jude Digby (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) for Roller Coaster

• Maia Waldegrave (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Rua, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) for White Māori

• Tamihana te koha a Matariki Teimana Simmonds (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Huri, Pikitu Marae) for The Price of War

The finalists for the Keri Hulme Award will be announced at the beginning of September. All winners will be announced at the Pikihuia Awards ceremony in Rotorua on 19 October as a part of KUPU Māori Writers Festival 2025. Finalists’ stories will be published in Huia Short Stories 16 which will also be launched at the awards ceremony. Tickets for the 2025 Pikihuia Awards are limited and will be available for purchase in August from the KUPU website.

Congratulations to all the finalists!