30 Years Of Pikihuia: Winners And Highly Commended Announced For The 2025 Pikihuia Awards

Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust is proud to announce the six winners and nine highly commended writers of the 2025 Pikihuia Awards, celebrating emerging Māori writers in te reo Māori and English, and mid-career Māori writers through the Keri Hulme Award. The awards ceremony was held at Te Puia in Rotorua as part of KUPU Māori Writers Festival.

Robyn Bargh, chair of Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust, spoke to this milestone: ‘Thirty years on, we are witnessing Māori literature flourishing on every level — from rangatahi writers finding their voice to established authors championing our stories globally. This is the best outcome we could have hoped for.’ The winners and highly commended for the 2025 Pikihuia Awards are:

Poetry – te reo Māori, judged by Hēmi Kelly

WINNER: Aperahama Te Kapua-I-Waho Hurihanganui (Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Te Tai Rāwhiti) for Te Matatini

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aperahama Te Kapua-I-Waho Hurihanganui (Wairarapa, Te Arawa, Te Tai Rāwhiti) for Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Te Aomihia Kaipara (Ngāti Naho, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe) for Kia ū, kia mau!

Poetry – English, judged by Tayi Tibble

WINNER: Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa) for skin

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Marama Salsano (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Wairere) for Calabashes in my mouth

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jessica Hinerangi Thompson-Carr (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāpuhi) for Tīpuna go fishing to catch another mokopuna

Short Story – te reo Māori, judged by Maiki Sherman

WINNER: Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu) for Te Hapori Whanokē

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu) for He Kōrero Parāoa

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hāwea Apiata (Ngāti Kura, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Toarangatira) for Te Tohunga me te Pirihi

Short Story – English, judged by Carol Hirschfeld

WINNER: Mark Horsefield (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Rehia) for The Sea Within

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Toni Pivac-Hohaia (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pūkenga) for Paradise Duck

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Anthony Kohere (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Muaūpoko, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) for L!PSTICK CALLS

Tauira Short Story Award, judged by Mike Ross

WINNER: Tamihana Simmonds (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Huri, Pikitū Marae) for The Price of War

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sarah Rose Mautoka Wilson (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou) for Twilight's Wake

Keri Hulme Award, judged by Robyn Bargh and Nic Low on behalf of the Hulme whānau:

WINNER: Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) for Kataraina

Judge for the Poetry – te reo Māori category Hēmi Kelly commented: ‘There’s a real sense that our poetic tradition continues to evolve, and that today’s writers are carrying that legacy forward in bold and beautiful ways. Some pieces sang softly, others demanded to be heard, but all of them reflected the vitality of our reo and the depth of Māori thought. It’s inspiring to see Māori poetry thriving — challenging us, making us think, and opening up new ways of seeing ourselves and our world.’

Carol Hirschfeld, judge for Short Story – English reflected on her category: ‘Short fiction leaves no room to hide — every line must carry meaning. The best stories this year did exactly that: economical, precise, and emotionally resonant. Together, they remind us why Māori storytelling remains such a powerful force in contemporary literature.’

The finalists’ stories and poems are published in Huia Short Stories 16 which was launched at the awards ceremony. Former Pikihuia Awards winner and Te Papa Tupu graduate Zeb Tamihana Nicklin (Pāhauwera, Ngā Tokorima a Hinemanuhiri, Tūhoe, Tāmanuhiri, Rangitāne) also launched his debut te reo Māori novella Te Onehaumako. Both are available now from all good bookstores and at huia.co.nz.

About Te Waka Taki Kōrero – Māori Literature Trust: Established in 2000, the trust has been fostering new and emerging Māori writers for more than 20 years, supporting many writers who have gone on to have successful careers as authors who produce award-winning stories.

About the Keri Hulme Award: Presented as a a part of the Pikihuia Awards, this award recognises a mid-career Māori writer who represents the values Keri Hulme embodied through her work and storytelling. The award includes $5000 and guardianship of the Keri Hulme Award taonga for two years.

About Kupu Festival: The KUPU Festival aims to celebrate and honour Māori writers, inspire a new generation of Māori writers and encourage everyone to engage with Māori literature. KUPU 2025 was held in Rotorua 17 – 18 October 2025.

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, KUPU Māori Writers Festival, Huia Publishers and the Keri Hulme whānau.

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