ACLAR Keynote speakers
We are thrilled to introduce our 5 keynote speakers for ALCAR 2024, all of whom will explore links to the conference theme of whenua.
Professor Tom Roa
He aha te mea nui? What is the most important thing?
In this keynote Tom will explore Whakapapa (genealogy); Whānau (family); and Whenua (the land) in relation to the traditional Māori narratives embodied in the wharenui ‘Te Tangata’, and the importance of those narratives for children of all ages.
About Professor Tom Roa
Professor Tom Roa started an immersion Māori Language pre-school in 1983 with his and others’ children before the introduction of Te Kōhanga Reo - Māori Language Immersion Nests. He continues those links with his grand-children, producing and contributing to children’s literature, principally in Māori, but also bilingually, English-Māori.
Professor Roa presents locally, nationally, and internationally and often has his opinion widely sought on Waikato-Maniapoto history, tikanga, and reo, with publications and translations in those and many other areas. He is a member of Te Kauhanganui/Te Whakakitenga o Waikato since its inception; former Chair; former member and Chair of Te Arataura (Executive of Waikato-Tainui); former Chair of Iwi Chairs’ Forum: Trustee and former Chair of Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust and of Waikato Raupatu River Trust; former Trustee of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and its successor Te Nehenehenui Trust; former Chair of Te Mauri o Maniapoto; Trustee and Marae Committee member of various marae and Māori Land Trusts. Member of The Waitangi Tribunal, former member of Pouhere Taonga, Kaumātua/Advisor/Consultant of various organisations including Māori Tourism Board; ACC; Oranga Tamariki; tribal historian of Waikato-Maniapoto.
Gavin Bishop ONZM
Tōku whenua. My land
In 1978 I was visiting a high school in Dunedin as an Art Advisor when ‘out of the blue’ a teacher suggested I should think about writing a book for children. She had heard that Oxford University Press in Wellington were hoping to start publishing some children’s books with a distinctive New Zealand flavour. Until that time, most of our children’s books came from England, North America or Australia. Very few were written and illustrated here. I was very excited by this idea and that night I started writing my first book, a story about New Zealand aimed at New Zealand children. I deliberately chose a part of the country that I was familiar with and made a sheep my main character. I called her Bidibidi after the annoying little thistles that cling to your socks when you are walking in the high country.
The challenge of exploring the landscapes, the histories and stories of the people of Aotearoa has become the major part of nearly every book I have written since Bidibidi.
Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant is the story of a lonely woman living in the suburb of Linwood in Christchurch where I live. Piano Rock looks at my life as a small child in a railway town on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island. Katarina tells of the hardships my great aunt experienced when she traveled from the Waikato to live in Southland in the 1860s. Even my retellings of European fairy stories such as Chicken Licken and The Three Little Pigs are set in the foothills of Canterbury during a particularly hot and dry summer.
In recent years I have worked mainly for two publishers. For Penguin Random House NZ I have written and illustrated several large format non-fiction books such as Aotearoa, Wildlife, Atua and Patu that look at tōku whenua, my land, it's history and its people. For Gecko Press I have produced a series of small “babies” board books in te reo Māori and English. The themes in all of these books are some of the things I will be looking at in my keynote address.
About Gavin Bishop
Gavin Bishop O.N.Z.M. has won Best NZ Children's Book of the Year five times, Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year five times and Best Non Fiction Children's Book of the Year three times. In 2018 he was awarded the TE TOHU A TA KINGI IHAKA for a lifetime contribution to Maori Art and culture and in 2019 THE PRIME MINISTER'S AWARD for Literacy Achievement. The University of Canterbury, presented him with an HONORARY DOCTORATE in Education in 2016. This year he was nominated for the 2024 Hans Christian Anderson Award, the highest award for Children's Literature in the world.
Pānia Tahau-Hodges
Eboni Waitere
Kaitiakitanga in contemporary indigenous publishing in Aotearoa
In the landscape of children's literature, Indigenous voices serve as crucial guides, shaping narratives that reflect cultural heritage, identity, and the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. Within Aotearoa New Zealand, the concept of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, calls upon individuals, hapū, iwi and communities to protect and preserve their cultural heritage for future generations. This keynote presentation explores the role of contemporary Indigenous publishing in Aotearoa as a form of kaitiakitanga.
Huia Publishers (HUIA) is an Indigenous and award-winning independent publisher of both educational and commercial resources. HUIA has developed an extensive catalogue, including Māori language publications, and Māori stories told for readers of English. We have been contributing to the revitalisation of te reo Māori for over 30 years. In this presentation we share the work of HUIA from its inception in 1990, exploring our identity as kaitiaki (cultural guardians) of pūrākau, reo (language) and whakapapa (ancestry). We discuss how our work contributes to the identity of tamariki in Aotearoa and as contemporary Indigenous publishers we share some of the challenges that come in this space.
This presentation delves into the complexities of balancing cultural authenticity with commercial viability, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems within the publishing process. It examines how Indigenous stories rooted in the whenua can empower young readers, fostering a sense of pride, identity, and connection to their cultural heritage. Furthermore, it explores the potential of Indigenous children's literature to promote cross-cultural understanding and foster empathy among readers from diverse backgrounds.
Ultimately, this keynote presentation seeks to share an insight into contemporary Indigenous publishing in Aotearoa and provide a glimpse into the ongoing work that needs to be done to ensure that Indigenous voices continue to be heard, valued, and respected within the realm of children's literature.
About Pania Tahau-Hodges
Pānia Tahau-Hodges (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe) brings her passion and dedication as an author and publisher of children’s literature to the 2024 ACLAR Conference. Pānia is a director of Huia Publishers, an award-winning Indigenous and independent publishing house based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Pānia's journey in publishing has been shaped by her Māori heritage and a sincere desire to create meaningful connections with young readers.
Throughout her career, Pānia has been a passionate advocate for diverse and inclusive narratives in children's books, recognising the importance of representation in shaping young minds. Her books, characterised by their gentle storytelling and colourful illustrations, aim to ensure that Māori children see themselves and their world reflected in the stories they read.
Pānia's presence at the conference serves as a reminder of the power of Indigenous storytelling to inspire, educate, and uplift. With humility and passion, she shares her insights and experiences, hoping to spark conversations that will continue to enrich the landscape of children's literature for generations to come.
About Eboni Waitere
Eboni Waitere (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne) is a director of Huia Publishers, a pioneering Indigenous publishing house based in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a strong exponent for Indigenous storytelling in the realm of children's literature, Eboni brings her genuine passion for publishing to the forefront as a keynote speaker at this year’s ACLAR Conference. With a background deeply rooted in her Indigenous heritage, Eboni approaches her role as a publisher with a quiet determination to amplify Indigenous voices and narratives.
Throughout her career, Eboni has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create a platform where Indigenous authors and illustrators can share their stories authentically. Her commitment to fostering inclusivity and cultural representation within children's literature is driven by a sincere belief in the transformative power of Indigenous storytelling.
Despite her significant contributions to the field, Eboni remains modest in her approach, recognising that her work is part of a larger collective effort to create positive change. At the conference, she shares her experiences and insights, hoping to inspire others to join her in the journey towards a more diverse and inclusive literary landscape for children everywhere.
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Karaitiana Tamatea
“Mā Muri, Mā Mua”
(Our Past informs Our Future)
The 2024 ACLAR conference theme “Whenua” resonates with the sharing of Indigenous narratives captured in the Indigenous art forms carved, painted and woven in the Wharenui (Meeting houses) .
On the Waikato University campus we have two Wharenui. Ko Te Tangata (For the People), as shared in our opening address by Professor Tom Roa, and Te Ao Hurihuri (The World of Change) as the final address of our conference by Kaiurungi Karaitiana Tamatea and Professor Tom Roa.
As indigenous researchers and academics we support that these Wharenui of Indigenous narratives are our Picture Books that connects our unique Past, Present and Future as a people and a nation.
About Karaitiana
Ko Maungatautari, ko Maungahaumi ngā maunga.
Ko Waikato, ko Waipaoa ngā awa.
Ko Maungatautari, ko Pōhara, ko Takitimu ngā marae.
Ko Waikato, ko Aitanga a Mahaki, ko Rongowhakaata ngā iwi.
Ko Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, koTe Whānau a Kai, ko Ngā Pōtiki ngā hapū.
Ko Karaitiana ahau.
Maungatautari and Maungahaumi are my ancestral mountains
Waikato and Waipaoa are my ancestral rivers
Maungatautari, Pōhara and Takitimu are my marae.
Waikato, Aitanga a Mahaki, and Rongowhakaata are my tribal affiliations.
Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Te Whānau a Kai and Ngā Pōtiki are my sub tribal affiliations.
I am Karaitiana
Karaitiana is a Senior Lecturer in Te Kura Toi Tangata, the School of Education at the University of Waikato.
He is the Kaiurungi (Mana Whenua representative) and Associate Dean Māori in the Division of Education.
His work is dedicated to delivering teacher education in Te Reo Māori to educators in the Māori medium sector, to Bachelor of Teaching students in English medium and to supporting all staff in Te Wānanga Toi Tangata the Division of Education.
