Mātātuhi Foundation supports another five literary initiatives

The Mātātuhi Foundation announces funding for five initiatives from writers, editors and organisations that will enhance or develop the literary landscape of New Zealand.

  • Kupu Ngā Ringa Tuhituhi: supporting the filming and distribution of content from Kupu Ngā Ringa Tuhituhi; a literary festival in Rotorua celebrating Māori writers.

  • Claire Mabey, Veronica Sullivan: - supporting the development and marketing of a six episode podcast series that aims to build a reading bridge between Australia and Aotearoa

  • Ruru Charitable Trust: developing and publishing, on a specially created digital platform, new writing from women and minorities of South Asian origin in Aotearoa

  • Overcommunicate Magazine / Te Maha o Ngā Kōrero: supporting the establishment of a digital platform ‘Overcom: Celebrate’, to help engage and profile NZ queer writers/community

  • Michael Dickison: digitising out-of-copyright New Zealand books, particularly literature and history of the West Coast.

This is the eighth funding round for the Foundation, established by the Auckland Writers Festival in 2018. Its aim is to support the literary community with funding of up to $5000 for new literature-related initiatives.

Kupu Ngā Ringa Tuhituhi was also the recipient of the bequest from the estate of esteemed Māori writer Rowley Habib. The one-off Habib grant was to be given to a proposal focused on advancing the promotion of Māori literature.

“It’s fitting that Rowley Habib’s legacy is supporting a new Māori writers festival,” says Mātātuhi Foundation Trustee Paula Morris. “The Kupu programme includes school visits, as well as marae and library events, so we’re fostering new writers and readers as well as celebrating literature.”

Up to ten grants are available each year across two funding rounds (May and October). Submissions must be made online at http://www.matatuhifoundation.co.nz/

Grants to date have supported workshops, websites, podcasts, digital content, mentoring and community projects, including the mentoring of youth and emerging writers, creating an online bibliography of books available in te reo, and projects that celebrate and preserve our literary history.

ENDS.

Natalie Pearce