Huia is an independent publisher with a focus on supporting Māori and Pacific writers, describing the diversity of Māori experiences and perspectives, and promoting the Māori language. Through exploring the stories and aspirations of people in Aotearoa, Huia aims to provide a mirror for Māori to reflect and interpret their experiences and to open a fascinating window for the rest of the world.
Huia Education works closely with teachers, subject specialists, language experts, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Education to develop valuable educational resources that delight and inspire. Over 600 schools in Aotearoa teach all or some of the curriculum in Māori language, and Huia provides quality resources to meet the needs of teachers and students.
Huia is the publisher of many award-winning novels and young adult fiction which are valuable resources for the classroom. Teacher’s notes ensure that these rich stories are accessible to students. Each set of teacher resources provides a basic and practical guide to engage with the literature, and emphasise a ‘share, investigate, wondering’ focus. Examples of novels include Bugs by Whiti Hereaka, which received the Honour Award for Young Adult Fiction at New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2014, and the Storylines Notable Book Award for Senior Fiction in 2014. The Pōrangi Boy by Shilo Kino was published in 2020 and won the Young Adult Fiction Award at New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2021.
Huia publishes a number of graphic novels in both English and te reo Māori. With a gripping storyline and rich illustrations, graphic novels are an excellent resource for second language learners of te reo Māori, and students who might otherwise find reading challenging. Examples include The Matawehi Fables, a set of three graphic novels published in two separate language editions and accompanied by teacher guides. The first title in the series, Meariki was the Winner of the Edify Award for Best Educational Book at the PANZ Book Design Awards in 2015.
Huia publishes junior chapter books in both te reo Māori and English, complete with teacher’s notes to engage and educate learners to develop their skills across all areas of literacy. Chapter books Awatea’s Treasure and Awatea and the Kawa Gang have been recognised for their excellence by the 2018 Storylines Notable Books for Junior Fiction, and the 2017 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Teacher resources provide a basic and practical guide to engage with the literature, and emphasise a ‘share, investigate, wondering’ focus.
Picture books
The Pūao series are a set of resources for Primary School Science focussed on the environment. The series includes titles on Ngā Rakau (trees), Ngā Manu (birds), and Wahapū (freshwater organisms). Each book includes traditional Māori knowledge about the subject as well as information about its physical features, types, uses, benefits and dangers. Each book in the Pūao series includes examples of lessons along with pictures, illustrations and information for students and teachers that will help teachers plan units of learning for the Science learning area.
Te Tautoko is a Māori language journal aimed at upper Primary School students and aims to provide students with good quality non-fiction journals that will assist students in their research of a particular topic. Topics include bees, the human body, the buying and confiscation of Māori land. Teachers’ notes provide a variety of reading strategies, lesson sequence ideas and learning tools where reading comprehension is a key aim of the learning and teaching.
Toi Te Kupu is a Māori-language student newspaper designed for students in senior secondary school Māori medium settings. The purpose of the magazine is to encourage and support students to read independently; motivate and engage students to read and think critically, discuss and write about contemporary events and topics; model text types that students are expected to produce; and provide a pathway, platform and resource for students to contribute as writers.
Huia proudly publishes a range of youth magazines and newspapers. Eke Panuku and Hui E! are magazines produced for students in Māori-language immersion and bilingual settings; Tāiki E! is a Māori-language magazine produced for students in Māori immersion primary school and is intended as a take-home magazine for children.
Whakamīharo Mai and He Māia, He Toa, He Tangata Noa are specifically designed to engage reluctant readers in upper primary school or lower secondary school. They use topics, genre, text types and format to deliberately engage all readers, and cover interesting topics such as famous sports people, amazing facts and inspirational historical recounts. They also provide a variety of visually stimulating illustrations, images and infographics.
Featured authors
Helen Pearse-Otene
Helen Pearse-Otene (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Ruanui) is a playwright, actor and author of the award-winning Matawehi Fables series. Helen is currently a member of Jim Moriarty’s community theatre company, Te Rākau. In her role at Te Rākau, Helen works as a playwright, programme facilitator, and a performer in prisons, on Marae, in CYF residential centres, in schools and mainstream theatres around the country.
Whiti Hereaka
Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa) is a playwright, novelist, screenwriter and a barrister and solicitor. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting) from the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University and is a trustee of the Māori Literature Trust. She has won several awards for her scriptwriting, including Best New Play by a Māori Playwright, Adam Play Awards in 2010 for Te Kaupoi and again in 2011 for Rona and Rabbit on the Moon. She has also held a residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in 2012 and 2017 and was International Writing Programme Writer in Residence, University of Iowa, in 2013. Her first novel, The Graphologist’s Apprentice, was shortlisted for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers Prize South East Asia and Pacific 2011.
Fraser Smith
Fraser Smith is principal of Oturu School in Kaitāia, a Green-Gold Enviroschool where the curriculum is delivered in a hands-on, practical way, supported by the community. The school has beehives, chickens, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and a registered kitchen. Fraser is a keen fisherman and sailor who knows how to live from the resources of the sea and the bush. He also writes stories and songs and plays and sings in a band. His junior fiction title Awatea’s Treasure won the 2018 Storylines Notable Books for Junior Fiction and was a finalist at the 2017 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
