Celebrating success for He Huatau Auaha: National Creative Writing Competition 2014
This year’s He Huatau Auaha, Te Ipukarea’s biennial National creative Writing Competition, has been deemed an overwhelming success, with more than 70 entries in three categories from 14 schools across New Zealand.
The winning students were presented with their awards at a ceremony held at AUT University’s Ngā Wai-o-Horotiu Marae.
AUT lecturer and co-coordinator of the competition, Hemi Kelly, says this was the second year the competition was run, and the huge increase in submissions from last year confirms plans to run it again in 2016.
“There were some real gems in this year’s entries. The competition provided a forum for our tamariki who are skilled in te reo Māori to express their creative ideas through writing - the subject of the submissions was left to them to decide,” says Kelly.
This unique competition is run through Te Ipukarea, the National Māori Language Institute which is housed at AUT. The competition has been developed and supported by Te Ipukarea Director Professor Tania Ka'ai, who is also a Professor in Māori Innovation and Development at Te Ara Poutama, AUT’s Faculty of Maori and Indigenous Development.
“There are a number creative writing competitions similar to He Huatau Auaha run for adults and children across New Zealand, but there had previously been nothing established which required submissions to be submitted only in te reo Māori,” explains Kelly.
“It also gives them a sense of pride knowing that their language is valued outside of the school environment at a tertiary level. It gives them an insight into the University and our hope is that it will encourage them to pursue tertiary studies in the future,” says Kelly.
Director of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori (School of Māori Language Excellence) at AUT, Wharehuia Milroy, who upon judging the junior 6-10year category, further adds that he was impressed with the ability of the children to express their thoughts so creatively.
To be in the running for the top prizes, all competition entries had to be written in te reo Māori. The competition was aimed at primary and secondary school students aged between 6-18 years old. Entries are grouped and judged through three age group categories: 6-10 years, 11-14 years, and 15-18 years.
He Huatau Auaha Category Winners
Section 1, 6-10, Judged by Wharehuia Milroy
1st: Te Pātaka Mātao Mīharo
By Taarewa-i-te-rangi
From TKKM o Mana Tamariki
2nd: Te Rakatira o te Tāone
By Te Rautāwhiri Mamaru O’Regan
From Te Kura o Woolston
3rd: Ngaro i te ngahere
By Paikea Bai-Te Kira
From TKKM o Te Rito
Section 2, 11-14, Judged by Hana O'Regan
1st: Te Tokotoru me ngā Patupaiarehe
By Calais Werahiko
From Te Kura o Woolston
2nd: Te Pakanga Tuatoru o Te Ao
By Teancum Rīwai
From TKKM o Tāmakinui-ā-Rua
3rd: Te Whare Kēhua
By Te Ata Pō Kiriona-Devonshire
From TKKM o Te Rito
Section 3, 14-18, Judged by Timoti Karetu
1st: Te Koiora Pōuri
By Rereao Taite
From TKKM o Mana Tamariki
2nd: Te Hua nō Te Wā
By Rāwiri Poutu-Smith
From TKKM o Mana Tamariki
3rd: Te Tama Meamea
By Manihera Te Hei
From TKKM o Te Rito