Articles

ArticlesNgā Atikara

Immerse yourself in feature stories on books and authors from Aotearoa. Dive into author interviews, articles, extracts, essays and more.

Tēnā, rukuhia ngā paki hirahira o ngā pukapuka me ngā kaituhi nō Aotearoa. Rukuhia ngā uiui kaituhi, ngā atikara, ngā tīpakohanga, ngā tuhingaroa, aha atu, aha atu.

Interview

'A significant history': Shana Chandra on BANJARA

'The inspiration for writing this story really came from my own deep longing for my great-grandparents' origin stories...'

19 March 2026

Extract

Extract: Be Brave, by Barbara Dreaver

'I knew my safety depended on as many people as possible hearing about my detention, so one of my first calls was to friends at Fiji TV...'

19 March 2026

Extract

Extract: Banjara, by Shana Chandra

Check out this sneak peek extract from Shana Chandra's upcoming debut BANJARA, published April 14 by Moa Press.

18 March 2026

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Sereana Naepi, author and scholar

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2026, guest edited by Gina Cole, we interviewed two Pasifika creatives on their creative inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they'd ta...

18 March 2026

Interview

'There was no one walking ahead of me': Selina Tusitala Marsh speaks to Kete

Selina Tusitala Marsh is the current Commonwealth Poet Laureate. Hear about her time in Menton, her current writing project, and performing for the King in this interview.

17 March 2026

Extract

Extract: Pro Wrestling's Pacific Bloodline: Family over Everything

'From aiga to arena, this isn’t just a wrestling story. It’s about legacy, identity, and taking ownership of your narrative.'

16 March 2026

Interview

'We are word weavers': Gina Cole discusses Pasifika writing

'Storytelling is an ancestral, scientific, cultural practice observed across the Pacific Ocean. An integral part of our interconnected whakapapa...'

15 March 2026

Interview

'It’s a dream job' : Zech Soakai, guest Pasifika curator at Auckland Writers Festival

Kete explores what it means to be a guest curator at Auckland Writers Festival with Zech Soakai, poet, tusitala, kaiako and interdisciplinary artist.

13 March 2026

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Luca Tu’avao Walton, illustrator and artist

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2026, guest edited by Gina Cole, we interviewed two Pasifika creatives on their creative inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they'd ta...

13 March 2026

Listen

Listen: Kelsey Waghorn on Whakaari White Island and recovery

White Island guide Kelsey Waghorn reflects on her journey through recovery from her life-threatening injuries in the Whakaari disaster.

6 March 2026

Interview

'Fierce female friendships and lashings of magic': Steffanie Holmes

Steffanie Holmes speaks to Kete about magic, books and vampires in her new novel A GRAVE MISTAKE

5 March 2026

Interview

All about the Victorian funeral business: Deborah Challinor

Deborah Challinor gives Kete the lowdown on Victorian funeral customs and birthing practices as featured in her latest novel, BLACK VELVET AND VENGEANCE.

5 March 2026

Extract

Extract: Music on Kohatu St by JL Williams

Two children. One hidden staircase. A journey that will change everything. When the past finds you, will you know what to do? Music on Kohatu Street is a middle-grade time-slip adv...

3 March 2026

Listen

Listen: What Was I Thinking, Greg Judkins

Greg Judkins, author of WHAT WAS I THINKING, reflects on a life of adventure and challenge, along with the mistakes that he describes as an inescapable part of both personal and pr...

19 February 2026

Extract

Extract: Garrison World, by Charlotte Macdonald

Garrison World explores the lives of soldiers, sailors and their families stationed in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the British empire in the nineteenth century.

19 February 2026

Extract

Tiny Book, Big Things, Mighty Kaupapa

What are Big Things? There are over 10,000 of these larger-than-life kitsch roadside structures around the world, and 125 (and counting!) in Aotearoa New Zealand.

19 February 2026

Interview

Stomach-churning moments: Thomas Coyle on THE DEAD SPEAK

'I wrote this book for anyone who has an interest in forensic science, whether it is those that are avid viewers to dramatized crime shows or those that are genuinely curious...'

4 February 2026

Listen

Listen: Cats with Jobs

Leanne McGregor, managing editor at Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand and author of CATS WITH JOBS, talks about generating ideas, some of her favourite cats from the book and what...

30 January 2026

Listen

Listen: John Prins, Pastoral Care

John Prins, debut author of short story collection PASTORAL CARE, talks about messy drafts, endings and being voted into The Listener's Top 100 Books of 2025.

30 January 2026

Listen

Listen: Living with dyslexia, Chanelle Moriah

Chanelle Moriah, author of non-fiction workbooks I AM DYSLEXIC and THIS IS ADHD, talks about the process of writing with dyslexia and getting diagnosed, and how the book can help n...

30 January 2026

Extract

Extract: New Zealand Place Names, by Peter Dowling

From Aotearoa to Zalatown, Whanganui to Whangarei, Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua to Bluff, New Zealand Place Names is a treasure trove of names for locals and visitors alike. Enjoy...

14 January 2026