Author event: Poetry extravaganza with essa may ranapiri and friends
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Join us for an afternoon of poetry readings from queer Maaori rangatahi writers. Featuring: Aquila Merewitikau, Kōtuku Nuttall, Midden Rahurahu, Ruby Solly, and essa may ranapiri.
Location: Ngā Pou Ruahine (L2), Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library
This is a free event, and all are welcome. We expect this event to be very popular and seating is limited, so please arrive early to ensure a seat.
About our writers:
Aquila Merewitikau is an emerging two-spirit writer of Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngati Rangatahi Matakore, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Pākeha descent. Aquila is currently a master’s student at the IIML and is working on a novel that explores being brown, queer, and in your twenties in Pōneke Wellington.
Midden Rahurahu (Ngaati Rahurahu, Ngaati Tahu-Ngaati Whaoa) is a writer who was raised by taangata turi. They were a co-editor of Te Rito o te Harakeke, an anthology of Maaori voices for Ihumaatao and were shortlisted for the Michael Gifkins Prize for Poorhara, their first novel (published in 2024 by Te Herenga Waka University Press). In 2025 Poorhara won the Hubert Church Prize for Best First Book at the Ockham NZ Book Awards.
Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi Matakore, W̱SÁNEĆ - she/they) lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with her girlfriend and two small dogs. Her first book, Tauhou, received the 2020 Adam Foundation Prize and was shortlisted for the 2024 Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Tauhou is published in Aotearoa New Zealand by Te Herenga Waka University Press (2022) and in North America by House of Anansi Press (2023).
essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Raukawa, Ngaati Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngaati Awa, Ngaai Tai, Clan Gunn | they/ia) is an uri/thing/person living on the lands of Ngaati Wairere. Kaituhi of ransack (2019), ECHIDNA (2022) and Puke (Te Herenga Waka UP, 2026), they are the current writer-in-residence at Randell Cottage.
Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) is a writer, taonga pūoro practitioner, artist, and composer, and also received her PhD in public health for her thesis on the use of taonga pūoro within hauora Māori. Her books include Tōku Pāpā (2019), and The Artist (2023), both of which are published with Te Herenga Waka University Press. She has a book, an album, an exhibition, and a cake recipe in the works.
This event is in conjunction with essa may ranapiri's Randell Cottage residency.
Location: Ngā Pou Ruahine (L2), Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library
This is a free event, and all are welcome. We expect this event to be very popular and seating is limited, so please arrive early to ensure a seat.
About our writers:
Aquila Merewitikau is an emerging two-spirit writer of Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngati Rangatahi Matakore, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Pākeha descent. Aquila is currently a master’s student at the IIML and is working on a novel that explores being brown, queer, and in your twenties in Pōneke Wellington.
Midden Rahurahu (Ngaati Rahurahu, Ngaati Tahu-Ngaati Whaoa) is a writer who was raised by taangata turi. They were a co-editor of Te Rito o te Harakeke, an anthology of Maaori voices for Ihumaatao and were shortlisted for the Michael Gifkins Prize for Poorhara, their first novel (published in 2024 by Te Herenga Waka University Press). In 2025 Poorhara won the Hubert Church Prize for Best First Book at the Ockham NZ Book Awards.
Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi Matakore, W̱SÁNEĆ - she/they) lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with her girlfriend and two small dogs. Her first book, Tauhou, received the 2020 Adam Foundation Prize and was shortlisted for the 2024 Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Tauhou is published in Aotearoa New Zealand by Te Herenga Waka University Press (2022) and in North America by House of Anansi Press (2023).
essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Raukawa, Ngaati Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngaati Awa, Ngaai Tai, Clan Gunn | they/ia) is an uri/thing/person living on the lands of Ngaati Wairere. Kaituhi of ransack (2019), ECHIDNA (2022) and Puke (Te Herenga Waka UP, 2026), they are the current writer-in-residence at Randell Cottage.
Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) is a writer, taonga pūoro practitioner, artist, and composer, and also received her PhD in public health for her thesis on the use of taonga pūoro within hauora Māori. Her books include Tōku Pāpā (2019), and The Artist (2023), both of which are published with Te Herenga Waka University Press. She has a book, an album, an exhibition, and a cake recipe in the works.
This event is in conjunction with essa may ranapiri's Randell Cottage residency.
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Where is it happening?
Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library, 65 Victoria St, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, Public Library Building, 65 Victoria St, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, Wellington
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherWellington City Libraries
