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 October 2021

• Baker, Heretaunga Pat (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu)
  • Behind the Tattooed Face (1975)
  • The Strongest God (1990)
• 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)
  • Tū (2004)
  • Small Holes in the Silence (2006)
  • Chappy (2015)
• Hereaka, Whiti (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa)
  • The Graphologist’s Apprentice (2010)
  • Bugs (2013)
  • Legacy (2018)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Whetū Toa and the Magician (2018)
• Mead, Hirini Moko (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi)
  • Ko te Hiakai Tangata, Te Taniwha o Tuara-rangaia: He Tuhinga Auaha (1999)
• 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)
  • Rangatira (2011)
  • False River (2017)
• Pomare, J. P. (Ngāpuhi)
  • Call Me Evie (2018)
  • In the Clearing (2020)
• Renée (Ngāti Kahungunu)
  • Kissing Shadows (2005)
  • Too Many Cooks (2015)
  • The Wild Card (2019)
• 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)
  • King Pōtatau: An Account of the Life of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the First Māori King (1959)
• Waaka, Helen (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Torehina)
  • Waitapu (2015)
• Wake, Nancy (Ngāti Māhanga)
  • The White Mouse (1985)