National Book Awards Call For Maori Language Entries

There will be no Maori Language Award given this year in the country’s most prestigious book awards – the New Zealand Post Book Awards – as there were no books submitted into that category; a sign, says Te Reo advisor and Awards’ judge, Paul Diamond that there are still very few books being written or published for adults in Maori.
Mr Diamond further commented that while it was disappointing there were no submissions this year, he knows of ground-breaking works currently in production that, given the research and expertise involved, have a long gestation period.
“There are clear signs that writing in te reo Maori is flourishing in other areas, especially writing for film, television and publishing on the web.
The Maori Language Award aims to foster and celebrate books in Te Reo and to show publishers that there is support for them.
“I anticipate the market for books written in Te Reo for adults will grow exponentially with the next generation of fluent Te Reo speakers.
“My vision for the future is to see Te Reo fiction in every bookshop in the country. Let’s see Te Reo ‘chick-lit’, Te Reo mystery series’ and thrillers. It would be great to also see Te Reo cookbooks, histories, biographies and more.’
A Maori Language Award was presented for the first time in 2008 to editors Piripi Walker and Huriana Raven for their book Te Tu a Te Toka: He Ieretanga no nga Tai e Wha.
In 2009 He Pataka Kupu – te kai a te rangatira, the first-ever dictionary written entirely in Te Reo Maori was honoured with the award.
This year the monetary prize for the Maori Language Award winner doubled in value to $10,000.
The Category Award winners, People’s Choice Award and the overall New Zealand Post Book of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner held in Auckland’s Langham Hotel on 27th August, 2010.