Huia Short Stories 14

Here are the best short stories from the Pikihuia Awards for Māori writers 2021 as judged by Emma Espiner, Carol Hirschfeld, Vincent Olsen-Reeder and Maiki Sherman. This competition, run by the Māori Literature Trust and Huia Publishers, is held every two years to promote Māori writers and their work.

The awards sought short fiction from first-time and emerging writers in te reo Māori and English. The competition attracts entries each year from writers of all ages and those who are starting out to seasoned authors. This collection of finalists’ fiction celebrates Māori writing, introduces new talent and gives an opportunity for Māori writers to shine.

The stories are:

Kahukura: Te Tama nō te Māra Taro by Iraia Bailey
The Future is Koe by Shelley Burne-Field
Alexandra by Frances Duncan
The Bus Driver by Miriama Gemmell
Good Thing by Olivia Aroha Giles
Mangrove Heights by Emma Hislop
Ki Hea Noa Iho? by Jordanah-Lee Hohipa
He Rūkahu Rānei by Panitahi Howe
The Trouble with the Bubble by Nadine Anne Hura
Two Letters by Nadine Anne Hura
Food Porn for the Incapacitated by Merryn Jones
Not Quite Home by Steph Julian
Argentine Ants and My Search for Hawaiki by J Wiremu Kane
Wairua by Atakohu Middleton
The Children of Church Street by Airana Ngarewa
Spotlight on the Marae by Airana Ngarewa
Iti te Kupu, Nui te Kōrero by Zeb Tamihana Nicklin
Te Māminga a Tamanuiterā rāua ko Takero i a Māui by Zeb Tamihana Nicklin
Te Māra a Tangaroa by Zeb Tamihana Nicklin
Pōhutukawa me tana Āporo by Zeb Tamihana Nicklin
Te Atakura by Sean Ogden
Marble Pills and Raspberry Vodka by Anthony Pita
The Weather Man by Leeann Ramsay
Let it be/Waiho by Chris Reed
Ngā Hoa Hoariri by Bonice Ropiha
The Label Machine is Broken by Ashlee Sturme
Te Uaua o Te Kimi Hoa by Maia Thompson
The Skinhead by Te Ariki Wi Neera