Te Reo Māori Book Makes History

Monday, 21 July 2008

A short story collection written in Te Reo Māori made history last nigh, winning the Māori Language prize at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Editors Piripi Walker and Huriana Raven were presented with the $5,000 prize for their book Te Tū a Te Toka: He Ieretanga nō ngā Tai e Whā by Associate Minister of Arts Culture and Heritage, Mahara Okeroa at a gala awards dinner held at the Wellington Town Hall.

This is the first time ever that books were entered specifically for the Māori Language Award.

Category judge, Hone Apanui says tonight's award is a landmark for Te Reo Māori.

‘The Māori Language Award is important, for it acknowledges the viability of Te Reo Māori in the wider world of New Zealand writing; and it gives writers and publishers some incentive to write for a growing audience of Te Reo Màori readers.'

Te Tū a Te Toka published by Totika Publications competed against another short story collection, Ngā Pakiwaitara a Huia 4, published by Huia, to take the prize.

Mr Apanui says the winning book's authors are skilled and articulate, hailing largely from a generation born and reared in Māori speaking communities, between the two world wars, with a light smattering of younger, contemporary writers.

‘Especially notable is the use of iwi vernacular, the keen observation and the turn of phrase, which rings clear and true in every piece of writing. How similar experiences can be told in a range of voices and appear fresh each time is remarkable.'

He also said there are contentious pieces in the book, such as the argument by a noted academic that Māori were responsible for the loss and decline of Te Reo Māori.

A further two books written by Māori won their categories at last night's Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Ngahuia Te Awekotuku with Linda Waimarie Nikora, Mohi Rua and Rolinda Karapu won the Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture Category for Mau Moko: The World of Māori Tattoo.

Hilary and John Mitchell won the History Category for Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka Volume II: Te Ara Hou - The New Society.

More than 220 titles were submitted for judging in this year's Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Montana New Zealand Book Awards' judges' convenor, Lynn Freeman says these awards confirm that Māori are now at the forefront; among our best writers.

‘Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka is a magnificent achievement, exhaustively researched, beautifully illustrated, and a model for Māori history in other parts of Aotearoa.'

Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture category advisor, Ann Packer says Mau Moko will stand as a beacon on the subject for many years to come.

‘Mau Moko is a beautifully-produced, authoritative book on a subject that has been documented before, but never in this depth.'

The principal sponsors of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards are Montana and Creative New Zealand.  The awards are managed by Booksellers New Zealand and supported by the Book Publishers Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand Society of Authors and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd.