2025 Pikihuia Awards Finalists
By Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust | Posted: Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Māori Literature Trust is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Keri Hulme Award recognising the contributions of mid-career Māori writers who exemplify the values of perseverance and experimentation through their storytelling.
The finalists for the 2025 Keri Hulme Award are:
Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) for Kataraina
Steph Matuku (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga) for Migration
Tina Makereti (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore) for The Mires
All winners will be announced at the Pikihuia Awards ceremony in Rotorua on 19 October as a part of KUPU Māori Writers Festival 2025. Tickets for the 2025 Pikihuia Awards are limited and are available for purchase below.
The Pikihuia Awards are made possible through the generous support of our partners and sponsors: Creative New Zealand, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Huia Publishers, KUPU Māori Writers Festival and the Keri Hulme whānau.
Congratulations Becky, Steph and Tina! We are thrilled to recognise your longstanding contributions to Māori literature and the wider Indigenous literary landscape.