Authors

Distinguished Professor Tā Hirini Moko Mead (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa and Tūhourangi) is a writer, commentator, composer, artist and tribal leader. He is the author of over seventy books, papers and articles. He was foundation professor of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and was an inspired founder of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne. A scholar of Māori language and culture, Tā Hirini was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and received a knighthood in 2009 for his services to Māori and to education.

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Denika lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She is 16 and has an unrelenting passion for fantasy and dystopian writing. Denika has loved writing ever since she could hold a pencil in her hand. She writes at her desk, staring out the window, imagining Elves jumping through the trees and bush-clad hills. She published her debut novel Royal Orchid, The Death-Hunters, in October 2019 when she was 15. The prequel to Royal Orchid, Into the Flames was released on April 3rd, 2020. Her third book, The Ghost Warriors was published in November 2020. Over the past few years, she has won and been a finalist in several youth writing competitions, including being a two-time finalist in the New Zealand Youth Laurate award 2018. Denika was a finalist in the Best New Talent category for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards in 2020. When she is not writing, imagining dragon adventures or immersed in her latest reading escapade, you may find her occasionally contemplating NCEA school assessments. www.denikameadauthor.com

Kita Mean is the queen of camp and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season One. An owner and hostess of three nightclubs, Kita is a boss bitch entrepreneur who has graced stages all around the world. With over a decade of experience tucked away, Kita Mean is guaranteed to leave you grinning!

Norman Meehan is a New Zealand musician. An active composer, Norman has performed original music throughout the country and in Europe. Since 2008 his primary musical focus has been setting poetic text as song. He has collaborated with vocalist Hannah Griffin to set texts by New Zealand poets on Rattle Records releases. He is the author of Time Will Tell: Conversations with Paul Bley (2003); Serious Fun: The Life and Music of Mike Nock (2010); and New Zealand Jazz Life (2016). He and his partner have recently returned to Wellington after several years in New York.

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Peter Meihana is from Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Maui, and is of Ngati Kuia, Rangitane, Ngati Apa ki te Ra To and Ngai Tahu descent. He is a trustee on Te Runanga a Rangitane o Wairau, a former trustee of Te Runanga o Ngati Kuia, and sits on committees for Ngati Apa ki te Ra To. Peter completed his PhD in 2015 with a thesis that examined the notion of Maori privilege and its role in the colonisation of New Zealand. He has published articles and chapters on Maori 'privilege' and the histories and traditions of Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Maui. He is a senior lecturer in Maori History at Massey University's Manawatu campus.

After arriving in New Zealand in 2000, South African-born fashion and celebrity portrait photographer Jackie Meiring shifted her focus towards architecture and interiors (@jackiemeiring). Inspired by the work of New Zealand architects and designers, she developed a real passion for the genre. Her work has appeared in countless local and international magazines and books including

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Anete Melece (1983) is an illustrator, animation artist and director whose works stand out with witty details, charming characters and sincere stories. Currently based in Switzerland, she has published her illustrations in magazines such as Kuš!, Strapzin and Internationale. Her animated films have received awards at multiple international film festivals, including the Swiss Film Award for the Best Animation Film in 2014 for the film Kiosk (2013). Her recent film Analysis Paralysis (2016) qualified for the Academy Awards’ Best Animated Short Film.

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