Huia Publishers eagerly await Pikihuia results

This year entries for short stories written in Māori has more than tripled since the last Pikihuia competition in 2009. With an overall increase of entries from the last Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers, Huia Publishers eagerly await the judges’ selection of this year’s finalists for the Best Short Story written in Māori, Best Short Story written in English, Best Novel Extract, Best Short Film Script and Best Short Story written by a Secondary School Student. Finalists will be contacted in early June and find out if they have a chance of winning up to $2000 in prize money. 

The competition was open for three and half months from 1 January 2011, yet it was only in the last three days before the closing date that most of the entries arrived at Huia Publishers. Pikihuia Awards coordinator Dominika White commented, ‘It gets a little nerve-racking leading up to the closing date, but I shouldn’t be surprised that the majority of the entries arrive in the last week – it happens every time.’ However, Dominika was pleasantly surprised to see that more writers had attempted short film scripts, ‘I think having the script format available on the HUIA website has definitely been encouraging for first-time script writers.’

This year’s judges are Erima Henare, the Board Chair and Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, who is judging the Best Short Story written in Māori; actor and director for theatre, television and the big screen Katie Wolfe, who is judging the Best Short Film Script written in English; Booker prize winner Keri Hulme, who is judging the Best Novel Extract written in English; and editor and researcher of Māori and Pacific literature Reina Whaitiri, who is judging the Best Short Story written in English.

With all of the stories read, Reina is now in the process of deciding who will go on to be Pikihuia finalists: ‘There is no common theme but nearly all have incorporated, in various ways, their Māori heritage. Most draw on Māori mythology, culture, history and our experiences in the modern world. Some are positive in making connections with their culture and some not, but generally there is an honesty and sincerity about the stories which is appealing. I am truly impressed though at how many people are writing and how many submitted their work.’

 The finalists will be publicised on the Huia Publishers website and Facebook page at the end of June. Winners will be announced at the Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers awards ceremony on 27 August 2011 at Te Papa in Wellington. The featured artwork for the Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers 2011 was designed by Wiremu Barriball. His artwork will also feature on this year’s book cover. Books will be launched at the awards ceremony.