FESTIVAL 2025
WĀNAKA AT PUKETERAKI MARAE
For the first time in the festival’s history, NZYWF 2025 included a three-day wānaka held at Puketeraki Marae in Karitāne, in the lead-up to the public programme.
Initiated through a partnership with mana whenua and Kaupapa Māori Liaison’s Antony Deaker and Jessica Sutherland-Latton, the wānaka brought together selected young writers in a tuakana/teina model — combining peer mentorship, creative inspiration, and skill-building, all grounded in tikanga Māori.
“This year’s festival honours the vision of Rua McCallum — a bold, uncompromising force in Māori performing arts. Rua championed kaupapa Māori spaces where Māori artists could create and lead on their own terms. With the wānaka at Puketeraki Marae and the tuakana/teina model guiding our approach, we’re walking in the path she laid.” – Antony Deaker.
Tuakana young writers included Josiah Morgan (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto), Ruby Macomber (Ngāpuhi, Rotuma), Rauhina Scott-Fyfe (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāi Pākehā), and Nick Tipa (Kāi Tahu).
“Over the past few years, the NZYWF has already felt like a giant wānanga for writers from across the country to converge in Ōtepoti – it feels special this year to be entering a formalised wānanga space at Puketeraki Marae.” – Josiah Morgan
“Being able to tautoko as a tuakana at this year’s wānaka on my own marae is really meaningful. Everybody has a story — I’m excited to connect with some of the incredible young storytellers out there.” — Rauhina Scott-Fyfe
Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu - With feathers, the bird can fly
As feathers give the bird flight, NZ Young Writers Fest (NZYWF) nurtures young writers to rise, speak, and soar. Born from the kaupapa “by young writers, for young writers”, the festival encourages storytellers to stretch their wings by creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible space for skill-building, creativity, performance, and community connection. We welcome you to join us — from young creatives, to art and literature loving adults, all are welcome to celebrate Aotearoa’s next generation of literary talent. Nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei hui whakahirahira.