Kohai Grace was born in Whangarei and was educated at Plimmerton Primary School and Aotea College. She continued her education at Wellington Polytechnic and has a Computer Programming Certificate. She studied Journalism at Waiariki Community College and attended Te Wananga o Raukawa where she graduated with a Diploma in Design and Art, and a Bachelor of Design and Art. Kohai has worked as an Administrator, Contract Art Worker, Kohanga Reo teacher and Weaving Tutor. She writes children’s writing and waiata and has written a story for Learning Media/Ears Radio Programme.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Kohai Grace, 16 Sept. 1998.
Children's literature
- "Nobody Lives There." School Journal 2.4 (1991): 20-23. Rpt. in Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing for Children. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 4: Te Ara o Te Hau: The Path of the Wind. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1994. 137.
- A mystery tale where a children’s game of pretending to be horses takes a curious turn when the children turn into horses and disappear from their homes.
Non-fiction
- "Keeping in Touch." Tu Tangata 26 (1985): 27.
- A short account about West Rotoiti News, a bi-monthly community magazine produced by editor Raiatea Tahana-Reese and initially targeting the Mourea, Okere Falls and Otara Marae community in Rotorua.