Steph Matuku, born in Kaitaia and living in Taranaki, is a freelance writer, novelist and children's and young adults writer, who is 'dedicated to putting Māori children on the page'. Her writing includes a children's play, novels, picture books and non-fiction writing. Whetū Toa and the Magician was a finalist in the 2019 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and two years later she was awarded the Māori writers' residency at the Michael King Centre.
Biographical sources
- https://huia.co.nz/blogs/author/steph-matuku;
https://www.read-nz.org/writers-files/writers/matuku-steph
Fiction
- Flight of the Fantail. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2018.
- Whetū Toa and the Magician. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2018.
- Awarded finalist at the 2019 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
- The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2021.
- This picture book was shortlisted for the 2022 NZ Booklovers Children's Book Award.
- Falling into Rarohenga. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2021.
- The Dream Factory. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2024.
- Picture Book. Illustrator Zak Ātea.
- Migration. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia Publishers, 2024.
Non-fiction
- "What the heck is Māori Literature?" The Sapling. Rpt. in E-Tangata.co.nz/arts/steph-matuku-what-the-heck-is-Māori-literature/ Sept. 16, 2017.