Whiti Hereaka

Whiti
Hereaka

Whiti Hereaka is an award-winning Māori novelist and playwright based from New Zealand. She is an active participant in writing residencies both locally and internationally, including the Michael King Writers Centre and the prestigious International Writers Program in Iowa City.

Whiti has written four critically-acclaimed novels, The Graphologist’s Apprentice (2010), Bugs (2013), Legacy (2018) and Kurangaituku (2021). She also co-edited, with Witi Ihimaera, an anthology of Māori myths, Pūrākau: Māori Myths Retold by Māori Writers (2019).

Her latest novel, Kurangaituku, won New Zealand’s richest literary award, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

Whiti Hereaka is an award-winning Māori novelist and playwright based from New Zealand. She is an active participant in writing residencies both locally and internationally, including the Michael King Writers Centre and the prestigious International Writers Program in Iowa City.

Whiti has written four critically-acclaimed novels, The Graphologist’s Apprentice (2010), Bugs (2013), Legacy (2018) and Kurangaituku (2021). She also co-edited, with Witi Ihimaera, an anthology of Māori myths, Pūrākau: Māori Myths Retold by Māori Writers (2019).

Her latest novel, Kurangaituku, won New Zealand’s richest literary award, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

artwork-image

PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS

RELATED FEATURES

Video April 7 2026

The 2026 Shortlist

Discover this year's Dublin Literary Award Shortlist
News April 7 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Shortlist is Announced

Delve into the 6 novels shortlisted this year.
News April 2 2026

Past Winner Spotlight: Michael Crummey

Reflecting on his 2025 Dublin Literary Award win with his novel 'The Adversary', libraries, literature and more.
News March 11 2026

Translator Spotlight: Jo Heinrich

Reflecting on translating the 2023 winning novel 'Marzahn, Mon Amour' and life as a literary translator.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.