Ko Wai a Awa Wahine?

Tautoko the creativity of wāhine Māori.

He rāngai a Awa Wahine kua whakakotahi i raro i tētehi whakakitenga, kia māia te tuku o te wahine Māori i ōna toikupu, i ōna toi auaha, ā, kei ōna ringatoi ngā taputapu katoa kia eke a ia ki ōna teiteinga. Ko te hiahia o Awa Wahine kia whakaako, kia whakanui i te wahine Māori, i ngā wāhine katoa kia whai wāhi hoki rātou ki te whakaputa i o rātou toikupu, toi auaha rānei.

Awa Wahine is dedicated to supporting indigenous creators by giving them the tools and confidence to express themselves creatively. Our mission is to create impactful publishing opportunities for wāhine Māori, envisioning a world where their voices are heard and celebrated.

Our Values

HOUTUPU
Genuine & Authentic

TŪHONONGA
Connection

WHAKAMANAWA
Confidence & Encouragement

AROHA
Compassion

AUAHA
Create & Shape

Meet the Whānau

Get to know our whānau, and please reach out if you would like to speak to any of us.

  • KAIWHAKAHAERE MĀTUA

    Ko Whakarara, Ko Rangiuru ngā maunga

    Ko Matauri te moana i te Tai Tokerau

    Ko Kaituna te awa i te rohe whenua o Te Arawa

    Ko Mātaatua, Ko Te Arawa ngā waka

    Ko Ngāpuhi, Ko Tapuika ngā iwi

    Ko Ngāti Kura, Ko Ngāti Marukukere ngā hapu

    Ko Ataria Sharman tōku ingoa

    Ataria Sharman is a freelance writer and editor. She is the creator of the boutique press Awa Wahine and was formerly the editor of the arts and culture journal The Pantograph Punch. Huia published her children’s novel Hine and the Tohunga Portal in 2021, a finalist in the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Youth and Children.

Sharnaiya Rae-Karena

  • KAIRURUKU PĀPĀHO PĀPORI

    Ko Taratara te maunga

    Ko Wainui te awa

    Ko Mataatua te waka

    Ko Kenana te marae

    Ko Te Ranginui te whare

    Ko Ngāti Kahu te hapū

    Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi

    Ko Kahutianui te tūpuna

    Ko Kehlani tāku tamaiti

    Ko Sharnaiya-Rae Karena tōku ingoa

    Spending her formative years in Brisbane, Australia, Sharnaiya now resides in Te Tai Tokerau with her pēpi. Aside from being a māmā, she's also a current intern in the NGEN Room team, where her communication and marketing skills shine.

    Outside her professional mahi, Sharnaiya thrives as a social media manager, collaborating with clients to boost their online presence.

    Teaming up with Ataria Sharman, she co-curates inspiring content for Awa Wahine, a digital space celebrating Māori culture and empowering the wahine community.

  • KAIWĀWĀHI TOIKUPU

    Ko Ōkahuatiu te maunga
    Ko Waikākāriki te awa
    Ko Rongopai te marae
    Ko Kaikoreaunei te tipuna
    Ko Te Whānau a Kai te iwi
    Tihei, mauri ora!

    Sinead Overbye (Te Whānau a Kai, Ngāti Porou) is a historian, researcher and writer who lives in Wellington. She is the co-author of Stasis Magazine. Her poetry, essays and stories have been published with Starling, Sport, Turbine Kapohau, The Pantograph Punch, RNZ and other places.

    Image credit: Rebecca McMillan Photography

  • KAIWHAKATIKA

    Ko Tūtoko te mauka
    Ko Makaawhio te awa
    Ko Uruao te waka
    Ko Kati Mahaaki ki Makaawhio te hapū
    Ko Kāti Māmoe me Kāi Tahu ngā iwi
    Ko Te Tauraka Waka a Māui te marae
    Ko Te Koeti Tūranga te tipuna
    Ko Cassie Hart toku ikoa

    Cassie Hart is an award-winning writer and editor of primarily speculative fiction. She resides in beautiful Taranaki with her family.

  • KAIWHAKAERE WHAKAAKO

    Ko Whakarara, Ko Rangiuru ngā maunga

    Ko Matauri te moana i te Tai Tokerau

    Ko Kaituna te awa i te rohe whenua o Te Arawa

    Ko Mātaatua, Ko Te Arawa ngā waka

    Ko Ngāpuhi, Ko Tapuika ngā iwi

    Ko Ngāti Kura, Ko Ngāti Marukukere ngā hapu

    Ko Paddy Monaghan tōku hoa tāne

    Ko Hōhepa Monaghan taku tama

    Ko Hera Monaghan ahau

    Hera Monaghan is a māmā and kaiako who enjoys free writing in her journal and writing poetry. She teaches tamariki aged 5-12 years.