Olivia Giles

Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne, Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi, Te Āti Awa



"Olivia Aroha Giles is a Contemporary Māori artist and writer of Kahungunu, Raukawa, Te Ati Awa and Te Whanau a Apanui, Scottish and Irish descent from Wellington.

Olivia graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Design, majoring in Textile Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing.

She is a part of Porirua’s vibrant Art Scene, as a painter, sculptor and textile artist.

Olivia writes novels about educated, feisty, successful Maori Women working their way through the drama of life; sometimes feeling as if they've been given the wrong instruction manual.

Her stories are packed with rich characters, drama, humour, love, suspense and high-octane action. She coined the term ‘HineAtua (Goddess) Lit’.

She reads voraciously and has an addiction to romances and murder mysteries, which she calls “paperback crack” and non-fiction.

Olivia is currently the Art Director of Dusky Productions and writes every spare moment she can.

She is married to Scott and they share seven children and two grandchildren."



Biographical sources

  • http://heartofthetapustone.com/author.php 16 November 2016

    Children's literature

  • Two homes. Wellington, N.Z.: Learning Media, 2008.
  • Illustrations by Denise Durkin.
  • Pīwakawaka & the Ruru. Porirua, N.Z.: Dusky Productions Limited, 2015.
  • Rocket ship pyjamas and plum jam. Wellington, N.Z : Dusky Productions Limited, 2016.
  • Fiction

  • "Stepping Outside the Boxing." Huia Short Stories 9. Huia Publishers, 2011.
  • I Taniwha. Porirua, N.Z.: Dusky Productions, 2014.
  • "Elvis - a true story." 4th floor literary journal, 2015.
  • Feather from the kākahu. Porirua,N.Z.: Dusky Productions, 2015.
  • I hineAtua. Porirua, N.Z.: Dusky Productions Limited, 2016.
  • Non-fiction

  • Heart of the tapu stone. Porirua, N.Z.: Dusky Productions Limited, 2013.