The Kupu Māori Writers Festival is a significant celebration dedicated to honouring Māori writers—past, present, and future. Launched in 2022, this vibrant literary festival has quickly become a vital platform for indigenous voices, showcasing the extraordinary talents and stories of Māori writers from across Aotearoa. As we enter our third year in 2024, we invite you to join us in this transformative journey through literature.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rotorua, the Kupu Festival will take place from October 16th to 19th at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu, and Te Pakira Marae, Te Whakarewarewa. This year, nearly 40 esteemed Māori writers, poets, and thinkers will come together to share their diverse perspectives through a rich array of workshops, readings, and engaging discussions. Each session is designed to inspire creativity, foster connection, and celebrate the power of storytelling as a means of preserving our cultural heritage and shaping our future.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the writers who have participated in previous festivals, whose contributions have laid the foundation for this vibrant celebration. Our dedicated team has been hard at work, ensuring that Kupu Festival is a welcoming and enriching space for all attendees. We believe in the importance of amplifying our literary voices and nurturing the next generation of Māori storytellers. Join us as we honour the legacy of our ancestors, engage with contemporary narratives, and pave the way for future Māori writers to shine. Together, we will create a vibrant space where stories are celebrated, connections are forged, and the beauty of Māori literature is brought to life.
Chair and Trustee, KUPU Trust
Rangitihi is the Mātauranga Māori & Engagement Lead at Te Aka Mauri, Rotorua Library. He taught Te Reo Māori at Rotorua Lakes and Raukura High Schools and has worked as a Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Education. He is a current trustee of both Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa Trust and the Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, and composes for Te Kapa Haka o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Raukura and Ngāti Tarāwhai.
Secretary and Trustee
As a teacher and educator Makoha has worked as an educational consultant, a Board of Trustee’s member, and served on the New Zealand Teachers’ Council. Makoha continues her support for young people and her lifelong advocacy of te reo Māori within schools and the community. With her husband, the late Heta Hingston, Makoha was instrumental in the formation of the Māori Party.
Programme Curator and Trustee
Founder of Huia Publishers in 1991 with a vision of increasing the Māori voice in New Zealand literature, Robyn is the Chair of the Māori Literature Trust, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kea, Ngāti Tuarā, and a trustee of Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa. Robyn was made a Companion of the Order of New Zealand in 2012.
Treasurer, KUPU Trust
Rachel has worked as an accountant, administrator, and secondary school teacher. For the past 18 years Rachel has worked alongside her husband in his forestry contracting business where she has managed the financial and administrative functions of the business.
KUPU Trust Committee Member
Ruakiri (Ngāti Tarāwhai, Te Arawa, Te Whakatōhea & Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) was born in Tauranga and grew up in Rotorua under the guidance and care of his parents, grandparents, marae and iwi. Ruakiri is a product of Māori-medium and International education and is a dedicated tutor, singer and composer of waiata Māori, specifically Waiata Tira (Choral) and Waiata-ā-ringa (Action Song). Ruakiri comes from a family of talented composers and writers that have won regional, national and international awards. He is a fluent speaker of Te Reo Māori, English and Spanish.
KUPU Trust Committee Member
Te Taiawatea is a System Innovator at Healthy Families Rotorua having previously taught in early childhood education. She is a Trustee of Ngāti Hinemihi Reservations Trust and Charitable Trust and is working towards a Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership exploring indigenous literacies for mental wellness. Te Taiawatea supports the marketing, communications, broadcasting and social media management of KUPU.
KUPU Trust Committee Member
Born in Tokoroa, raised in Kawakawa and Whangamata, now living in Rotorua. Christina (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Te Rarawa) has worked in the private sector, for iwi, for Parliament and now works for the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. Christina’s current role as Principal Regional Advisor in the Bay of Plenty assists entities to access funding and deliver regional economic development projects in the region and also manages her partner's music business. Christina supports the marketing and communications management of KUPU.
KUPU TRUST COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jaylene (Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Mahanga Hourua) is a teacher and kapa haka specialist. She graduated with a Post-graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership from Waikato University, a primary teaching degree from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and a degree in Māori Performing Arts from Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and has been teaching for over 17 years. She is currently Head of Marautanga at Rotorua Girls High School focusing on te reo Māori and Te Ao Haka. She is on the Board of Trustees of Wharewarewa School and is an assessor of Te Ao Haka for NZQA. Jaylene is a member of the Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao kapa haka group and one of her proudest moments was winning trophies for Poi and Waiata tira (choral) at Te Matatini 2023.
