Tūī Kraal

Tūī (Pākehā) is a queer, neurodivergent writer of short and long(er) fiction, poetry and musings, based in Golden Bay. Weaving words has always been part of Tūī's life, however their professional career has largely been based in the outdoors as a guide, instructor, and restoration ranger.

As a writer, Tūī has been described as an 'inverter of expectations', with 'mythic, lyrical prose'.  Inspired by folklore, ancestral connections, queer, neurodivergent and minority experiences, they endeavour to give voice to those not heard, and to explore the relationships of the human and more-than-human world from unusual angles.

Between writing and looking after native plants, Tūī can be found knitting, out on adventures with blue heeler Skye, or with toes deep in the dirt of organic garden collective Fertile Ground.

Stories by Tūī that have found success in recent years:
Pleasant Haunting - Winner, Writing Battle Flash Fiction, 2026
Summer, 1854 - Winner, GB Wordfest Microfiction, 2024
Rebellion Pie - microfiction published in HOOT, Ōtepoti Writers Lab Anthology