Huia Short Stories 16

The cover art for 'Huia Short Stories 16' is visually striking and created by a talented Māori artist. It immediately sets the tone for the short stories and poetry within the anthology. The collection features a mix of te reo Māori and English across both short stories and poetry, and can comfortably be read in one sitting. It showcases a range of talented Māori writers who continue to share important and engaging stories.

The book is organised into three sections: short stories, poetry, and Tauira short stories. I particularly enjoyed the Tauira section, as these stories strongly reflect the voices and experiences of students who could be sitting in front of me in the classroom. The stories are reflective, well written, and a joy to read. Some could be used as effective examples for teaching creative writing, particularly in relation to structure, such as the story 'Rollercoaster'. Other texts would work well as tools for exploring perspective, critical literacy, and identity, for example in the story 'White Māori'.

The texts in the poetry section could be used to support the teaching of unfamiliar texts by connecting Māori ideas and concepts to the society we live in today. For instance, the poem 'Skin' could be used to explore themes of identity and love, while also examining what relationships between Māori and non-Māori couples were like in the 1970s. The poem 'Miriama' could also be studied to explore Māori beliefs and practices surrounding tangihanga.

Overall, this anthology is a brilliant collection filled with talented writers. It could easily be used as a valuable classroom resource or simply enjoyed with a cup of coffee while soaking up the sun.