2025 Te Tauihu Short Story Awards
Finalist Judges
Lee Murray
Writer, editor, poet and screenwriter, Lee Murray received the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction in 2023. She is a five-time Bram Stoker Award® winner, including anthology, fiction collection, and short fiction. As an anthologist, Lee has curated more than two dozen fiction titles, while her own short stories (76) have appeared in prestigious anthologies and journals alongside such well-known writers as Stephen King, Nancy Holder, and Ken Lui. She has served previously as a juror for numerous national and international literary awards. Click here for more information about Lee. |
Nuki Takao
Nuki is a proud descendant of Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tūhoe. A cultural exponent, teacher, weaver, researcher, editor, translator and writer, Nuki first started writing in 1994, composing the karakia, Ko Te Whiri to honour Hineteiwaiwa and Te Whare Pora, the house of weaving. From the early 2000’s, Nuki has translated, edited, published, authored and co-authored books primarily in te reo Māori and written mainly for Māori medium education settings. Most recently, Huriawa, set in Mohua and stunningly illustrated by Robin Slow, is part mōteatea, part karakia and all haiku. Huriawa is written in the traditional style,best expressed by the saying, “He iti te kupu, he nui te kōrero”. Although the words are few, they are filled with meaning. |
Shortlist Judges
English short listing judges (click names for details - opens in new window))
Sylvan Thomas
Iona Winter
Sylvan Thomas
Iona Winter