Collection: Huia Publishers

WINNER, Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, 2022

Kurangaituku is the story of Hatupatu told from the perspective of the traditional ‘monster’, Kurangaituku, the bird woman. In the traditional story, told from the view of Hatupatu, he is out hunting and is captured by a creature that is part bird and part woman. The bird woman imprisons him in her cave in the mountains. Hatupatu eventually escapes and is pursued by Kurangaituku. He evades her when he leaps over hot springs, but Kurangaituku goes into them and dies.

In this version of the story, Kurangaituku takes us on the journey of her extraordinary life – from the birds who sang her into being, to the arrival of the Song Makers and the change they brought to her world, and her life with Hatupatu and her death. Through the eyes of Kurangaituku, we come to see how being with Hatupatu changed Kurangaituku, emotionally and in her thoughts and actions, and how devastating his betrayal of her was.

Format: 152 mm x 229mm
Published: November 7, 2021
ISBN: 9781775506560
Language: English
RRP: $35NZD

This story charts the journey of Hineraukatauri – a cocoon/chrysalis who has entered a new realm, the human world, without their voice. It’s dark and wet, Ranginui and Papatūānuku have not yet separated or are in the process of having their offspring create space between the two.

In visiting each of the offspring, they gift Hineraukaturi a different component or aspect of music, ultimately her voice, represented in the shape of the Pūtōrino. Renowned musician and composer, Hirini Melbourne happens across the shape, and his breath, in playing it, gives life to all the gifts as he makes beautiful music through this instrument.

Format: Soft cover, 210 mm x 270 mm
Published: May 31, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-77550-824-3
Language: Te Reo Māori
RRP: $22NZD

WINNER,Young Adult Fiction Award, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adult, 2021

Twelve-year-old Niko lives in Pohe Bay, a small, rural town with a sacred hot spring – and a taniwha named Taukere. The government wants to build a prison over the home of the taniwha, and Niko’s grandfather is busy protesting. People call him pōrangi, crazy, but when he dies, it’s up to Niko to convince his community that the taniwha is real and stop the prison from being built. With help from his friend Wai, Niko must unite his whānau, honour his grandfather and stand up to his childhood bully.

Format: 138 mm x 210mm
Published: October 23, 2020
ISBN: 9781775503996
Language: English
RRP: $25NZD

Best Novel, 2022 Sir Julius Vogel Awards

Something is drawing Jena Benedict’s family to darkness. Her mother, father, brother and baby sister are killed in a barn fire, and grandmother Rose banishes Jena from the farm. Now, twenty years on, Rose is dying, and Jena returns home wanting answers about what really happened on the night of the fire and why she was sent away.

Will, Rose’s live-in caregiver, has similar questions. He hunts for the supernatural, and he knows something sinister lurks in the Benedict homestead. Together, Jena and Will unearth the mysteries around a skull, a pocket-watch, a tale of the Dark Man and a tiding of magpies. And in doing so, they set loose an evil entity determined to destroy Rose and her whole clan. Full of tension and psychological thrills, Butcherbird is a novel about uncovering truths and unshackling guilt.

Format: 138 mm x 210mm
Published: August 2, 2021
ISBN: 9781775506324
Language: English
RRP: $25NZD

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 

Format: 138 mm x 210mm
Published: October 30, 2021
ISBN: 9781775506607
Language: Te Reo Māori and English
RRP: $25NZD

Here are the best short fiction stories, short non-fiction pieces and poetry from the Pikihuia Awards for Māori writers 2023 as judged by Emma Espiner, Carol Hirschfeld, Maiki Sherman, Mike Ross, Hēmi Kelly and Robert Sullivan. This competition, run by the Māori Literature Trust and Huia Publishers, is held every two years to promote Māori writers and their work. This year, the awards sought short non-fiction and poetry, along with short fiction, from 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’ work celebrates Māori writing, introduces new talent and gives an opportunity for Māori writers to shine.

Format: 138 mm x 210mm
Published: October 31, 2023
ISBN: 9781775508212
Language: Te Reo Māori and English
RRP: $25NZD

This is the much-loved children’s picture book Where is the Green Sheep? translated into te reo Māori. The blue sheep, red sheep, bath sheep and bed sheep are here, along with a cast of sheep involved in zany antics, but the green sheep is only found on the last page. This translation is by award-winning translator Kawata Teepa.

Format: Hard cover, 220 x 232 mm
Published: November 1, 2021
ISBN: 9781775503057
Language: Te Reo Māori
RRP: $20NZD

Te Wheke the octopus loves to collect things – pirate coins, glossy pearls, sparkly lamps, old toys, broken toasters. But one day, he wants to get eight treasures all at once, and that gets him into trouble.

Format: Soft cover, 210 mm x 270 mm
Published: November 1, 2021
ISBN: 9781775506591
Language: English
RRP: $20NZD

Te Wheke the octopus loves to collect things – pirate coins, glossy pearls, sparkly lamps, old toys, broken toasters. But one day, he wants to get eight treasures all at once, and that gets him into trouble.

Format: Soft cover, 210 mm x 270 mm
Published: January 10, 2022
ISBN: 9781775506591
Language: Te Reo Māori
RRP: $20NZD