NZSA announce 2025 mentees

The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa – Ngā Kaituhi Māori has announced the recipients of the NZSA Ngā Kaituhi Māori Mentorship and Kupu Kaitiaki Programmes for 2025.

The four mentees and their mentors are:

• Hoani Hakaraia (to be mentored by Cassie Hart)
• Mereana Latimer (to be mentored by Emma Hislop)
• Tallullah Cardno (to be mentored by Steph Matuku)
• Tommy de Silvawith (to be mentored by Cassie Hart).

All four mentees will work with their mentors over six months to develop a publishable manuscript, ‘discuss ideas and issues – practical and editorial – and benefit from the experience, mōhio and mana of experienced kaituhi Māori’, said the organisers.

The two emerging writers selected for the 2025 Kupu Kaitiaki assessment program are:

• Rose Toia
• Billy Tangaere.

Both Toia and Tangaere will receive detailed feedback on their writing and discuss next steps with a manuscript assessor.

The 2024 winners of the mentorships were Miriama Gemmell, Jorja Heta, Aroha Te Whata, Jessica Hinerangi Thompson-Carr, Te Ura I Te Āta.

More about the mentorship and assessment program is available on the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) website.

Category: Awards Local news