Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
'I Almost Wept With Excitement And With Joy': Witi Ihimaera
As well as being an award-winning and critically acclaimed novelist and short story writer, Witi Ihimaera is also chair of Te Kaituhi Māori, the Māori writers' organisation within the New Zealand Society of Authors.
Te Kaituhi Māori have just opened applications for its 2025 Kupu Kaitiaki and Kaituhi Māori programmes, fostering emerging and developing Māori writers.
It's a "mighty mentor programme," Ihimaera told RNZ's Nights.
"In the past people like Paula Morris, people like Emma Hislop, Steph Matuku and Tanya Roxborogh have been the mentors.
"And so, whoever goes in for this Māori mentor programme, they get the best teaching, and we hope will become the best in the next 20 years."
Such mentor programmes didn't exist when Ihimaera was himself a young writer, but that may have helped him find his voice, he said.
"I had to begin my career from a Māori perspective, and a Māori point of view.
"Had I possibly had help from Pākehā institutions, then I possibly could have started to write in Pākehā ways and according to Pākehā frameworks."
The Kaituhi Māori mentorship programme happened for the first time in 2024. When Ihimaera read through the work produced it brought him great joy, he said.
"It was so incredibly awesome that, there are times when I almost wept with excitement and with joy, because I'm an old writer, I'm now 81 and to be able to see that there was a cohort of new rangatahi writers, fresh voices, refreshing ideas of who we were and people you know were mentoring them with so much generosity. It was just, an incredible experience."
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Aotearoa Music Awards: Che Fu Inducted Into Te Whare Taonga Puoro O Aotearoa | NZ Music Hall Of Fame, 25 Years On From The Release Of Navigator
Nurse Maude Association: Nurse Maude Welcomes Investment In Paediatric Palliative Care
Race Unity Speech Awards: Students’ Vision For A United Future - Embrace Our Differences
Commonwealth Foundation: Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 Regional Winners Announced
Doc Edge Festival: World Press Photo And Doc Edge Comes To Auckland In Landmark Exhibition Merger
Whakarongorau Aotearoa: International Nurses Day - Healthline Nurses Help 800 New Zealanders A Day