Keri Hulme Award 2025 finalists announced

The Māori Literature Trust Te Waka Taki Kōrero has announced the finalists for the 2025 Keri Hulme Award, which recognises ‘the contributions of mid-career Māori writers who exemplify the values of perseverance and experimentation through their storytelling’.

The finalists are:

• Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) for Kataraina (The Cube Press)
• Steph Matuku (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga) for Migration (Huia Publishers)
• Tina Makereti (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore) for The Mires (Ultimo).

Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust board chair and judge Robyn Bargh said, ‘The three novels we selected as finalists included some beautiful language and well-paced plots. But what stood out for us was their confidence to experiment with innovative structures and settings.’

Bargh judged alongside author Nic Lowe.

The winner will be announced at the Pikihuia Awards ceremony at Te Puia on 19 October as a part of KUPU Māori Writers Festival 2025.

More information is available on the Māori Literature Trust Te Waka Taki Kōrero website.

Category: Awards Local news