Lauren Hunia was born in Whakatane and educated at Matata Māori Primary School, Whakatane High School and Queen Victoria School. She continued her studies at Auckland University where she graduated with a M.Sc (Hons). Lauren attended Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College. Lauren has worked as a Post Office Clerk in Auckland, as an air hostess on National Airlines, as a History and English teacher at Whakatane High School and as an English teacher at Hillary College, Otara. Lauren Hunia has been a History student in Open Grants at the East-West Center, Honolulu and has been a member of Editorial Board of Impulse. She was awarded a East West Centre Scholarship at Hawaii. She returned from Hawaii in 1981 due to ill-health after working towards a PhD at the University of Hawaii. She writes non-fiction articles.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Lauren Hunia 19 Mar. 1998.
Non-fiction
- "An alternative to the PR system in Secondary Schools." N.Z. Post-Primary Teachers’ Association Journal November (1978): 18-19.
- Co-authors Lauren Hunia and Jan Wright.
- "The Māori: Religious Vitality, Ethnic Renewal." Impulse 7.1 (1980): 57-59.
- Hunia provides a history and description of the Ratana and Ringatu churches.
- "Māori Women and Feminism." New Zealand Monthly Review XXII. 240 (1982): 2.
- Hunia writes a response to the New Zealand feminists who have ‘looked askance’ at Māori women coming from iwi which do not permit women to speak on the marae. Hunia argues that many outstanding women come from these iwi and that in traditional Māori society there was a co-existence of men and women with a division of labour on gender lines. Hunia also observes that in the wharenui there is scope for free discussion by men and women.
Reviews
Tu Tangata
- Rev. of Women in New Zealand Society. Ed. Phillida Bunkle and Beryl Hughes. Tu Tangata 4 (1982): 40-41.