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Maori feature prominently in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults announced at a ceremony in Wellington last night.
Among the winners was a bi-lingual book "Motiti Blue and the Oil Spill" about a little blue penguin caught up in the Rena disaster by Debbie McCauley and Tamaki Waaka which won the best non-fiction category.
The Maori Language Award went to Nga Kii by Sacha Cotter and Kawata Teepa while the prize for Best First Book was won by Julie Noanoa for her book Maori Art for Kids.
Te Reo maori language advisor, freelance writer and editor Stephanie Pohe-Tibble who was one of the judges says while all the winning books are great she sees Maori Art for Kids as a must for families with children.
"It's so beautiful. It's a Maori arts activity like the title says for kids but it comes from authentic examples from contemporary artists" she says.
Stephanie Pohe-Tibble says while it is currently written in English Julie Noanoa is looking to have Maori Art for Kids translated into Maori.
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