If you’re looking for fiction written by Māori authors, for NCEA or just because they’re good, here are a few we recommend, along with one or two of their books (most have many more!). Note: we’d love to add to this – if you’ve got a favourite Māori author not here then email us their name and we’ll add them!
Last updated January 2024
- Baker, Heretaunga Pat (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu)
- Behind the Tattooed Face (1975)
- The Strongest God (1990)
- Baker, Tīhema (Raukawa te Au ki te Tonga, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira)
- Duff, Alan (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūwharetoa)
- Once Were Warriors (1990)
- One Night Out Stealing (1992)
- Both Sides of the Moon (1998)
- Dunsford, Cathie (Ngāpuhi, Hawai’ian)
- The Song of the Selkies (2001)
- Ao Toa (2004)
- Kaitiakitanga Pasifika (2014)
- George, James (Ngāpuhi)
- Wooden Horses (2000)
- Ocean Roads (2006)
- Grace, Patricia (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Āti Awa)
- Cousins (1992)
- Tū (2004)
- Small Holes in the Silence (2006)
- Chappy (2015)
- Hereaka, Whiti (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa)
- The Graphologist’s Apprentice (2010)
- Bugs (2013), Young Adult collection
- Legacy (2018), Young Adult collection
- Kurangaituku (2021)
- Hulme, Keri (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mōmoe)
- The Bone People (1983)
- The Windeater (1986)
- Stonefish (2004)
- Ihimaera, Witi (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata)
- Pounamu, Pounamu (1986)
- The Whale Rider (1987), Young Adult collection
- The Parihaka Woman (2011)
- Kino, Shilo (Ngāpuhi, Tainui)
- The Pōrangi Boy (2020)
- Makereti, Tina (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Rangatahi)
- Where the Rēkohu Bone Sings (2014)
- Black Marks on the White Page (2017)
- The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke (2018)
- Manawatu, Becky (Ngāi Tahu)
- Auē (2019)
- Mataira, Kātarina (Ngāti Porou)
- Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua (2012)
- Matuku, Steph (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Āti Awa)
- Flight of the Fantail (2018), Young Adult collection
- Falling into Rarohenga (2021), Young Adult collection
- Mead, Hirini Moko (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi)
- Ko te Hiakai Tangata, Te Taniwha o Tuara-rangaia: He Tuhinga Auaha (1999), Young Adult collection
- Morey, Kelly Ana (Ngāti Kuri)
- Bloom (2003)
- On an Island, with Consequences Dire (2007)
- Quinine (2010)
- Morris, Paula (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua)
- Dark Souls (2011), Young Adult collection
- Rangatira (2011)
- False River (2017)
- Ngarewa, Airana (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngā Rauru)
- The Bone Tree (2023)
- Nuttall, Kōtuku Titihuia (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, W̱SÁNEĆ)
- Tauhou (2022)
- Pomare, J. P. (Ngāpuhi)
- Call Me Evie (2018)
- In the Clearing (2020)
- Reilly, Rebecca K (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai)
- Renée (Ngāti Kahungunu)
- Kissing Shadows (2005)
- Too Many Cooks (2015)
- The Wild Card (2019)
- Solly, Ruby (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe)
- Tōku Pāpā (2021)
- The Artist (2023)
- Soutar, Monty (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Kahungunu)
- Sturm, J. C. (Taranaki, Te Āti Awa, Te Whakatōhea)
- House of the Talking Cat (1983)
- The Glass House (2006)
- Tawhai, Alice (Tainui, Ngāpuhi)
- Festival of Miracles (2005)
- Luminous (2007)
- Dark Jelly (2011)
- Taylor, Apirana (Te Whānui-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Ruanui)
- Ki te Ao: New Stories (1990)
- Iti te Kopara, the Bell Bird is Small: Short Stories (2000)
- Five Strings (2017)
- Te Hurinui, Pei (Ngāti Maniapoto)
- Waaka, Helen (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Torehina)
- Waitapu (2015)
- Wake, Nancy (Ngāti Māhanga)
- The White Mouse (1985)
Mary McCallum
Becky Manawatu, JP Pomare, Renee
Stephen
Thanks for the great suggestions, Mary! We’re just in the midst of updating all of our lists, and we’re absolutely going to include Becky Manawatu, J.P. Pomare, and definitely Renée (I’m surprised she wasn’t already on this list, given how many of her books we hold!). Ehara koe i a ia!