The programme, Pōkai Tuhi, has been developed in response to a growing need identified through Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s 50-year strong Writers in Schools programme.

Writers in Schools sees around 50,000 tamariki and rangatahi visited by a real author or illustrator in their classroom every year, with transformative results. A Point evaluation of the programme in 2022 identified Māori and Pasifika author visits as a key strength of the work.

“The evaluation showed that some of the most significant benefits of Writers in Schools are when Māori and Pasifika students see themselves in stories, hear positive and affirming cultural narratives, and connect with role models,” says Juliet Blyth, CEO.

Demand for Māori and Pasifika author visits is stronger than ever, and the Pōkai Tuhi programme aims to upskill up-and-coming talent for the benefit of tamariki as well as drawing more on the Māori and Pasifika writers currently working with schools nationwide.

“The programme will not only help advance new authors for ongoing Writers in Schools visits, but also help develop another network of Māori and Pasifika writers with the same aims,” says Juliet.

“We are looking forward to these talented kaituhi sharing with and learning from each other, as well as from the kura and school visits, and to the flow-on benefits for the entire sector resulting from the increased awareness of these amazing authors.”

The upcoming wānanga, which is a pilot aimed at shaping the ongoing Pōkai Tuhi offering, will be held in Ōtaki from August 5-9. The Ōtaki location was selected as a thriving Māori and Pasifika cultural hub where the pilot programme will resonate strongly with the local community.

“The wānanga will add to the kete of reading inspiration for local kaiako, kura and schools, and reinforce a love of reading, writing, and storytelling in Ōtaki communities,” says Juliet.

The writers will visit at least twelve local kura and schools over the course of the wānanga, bringing fresh life into reading, writing, and creativity. Schools can expect offerings as varied as spoken word poetry with Te Kahu Rolleston, storytelling with Emele Uguvale, or delving into the writing process with Brianne Te Paa.

Writers will also learn from a variety of publishing and book industry experts over the course of the programme, which is aimed at holistic skill development for their writing craft as well as Writers in Schools induction.

The Pōkai Tuhi pilot is generously funded by Mātātuhi Foundation, who are looking forward to the results from the wānanga.

After the wānanga concludes, the eight authors will be available for Writers in Schools visits in their local communities or further afield, beautifully bringing to life the Pōkai Tuhi kaupapa.

The programme’s name speaks to a flock of writers gathering together, which is the nature of the wānanga, but also relates to the Samoan proverb ‘E lele le toloa ae ma'au i le vai’, which reminds us that like the toloa bird, we should always return home with our cultural roots intact.

“We look forward to the ongoing benefits of the mentoring provided by this programme,” says Juliet, “not only in terms of growing some of Aotearoa’s outstanding writing talent, but in turn, inspiring more tamariki, rangatahi and kaiako with Aotearoa’s stories for years to come.”

Read more about Pōkai Tuhi and this year's participants