essa may ranapiri

essa may ranapiri (1993 – ) is a takatāpui Māori poet and visual artist of Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pūkeko, and Scottish and English descent. They hold an MA in Creative Writing from Victoria University of Wellington (2018) and are currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Otago, focusing on how poetry by tāngata takatāpui enhances understanding of atuatanga.

ranapiri’s work explores themes of identity, colonisation, queerness, and mythology, often weaving together Māori pūrākau, Greek mythology, and contemporary experiences. Their poetry is known for its experimental form and emotional depth, often challenging traditional narratives and embracing a fluid, inclusive approach to storytelling.

ranapiri’s debut poetry collection, Ransack (2019), was longlisted for the 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Their 2022 poetry collection, Echidna, explores the Greek Mother of Monsters, reimagined in a colonised world, blending mythologies and personal narrative. Along with co-editing the anthologies Te Rito o te Harakeke (2022) and Kupu Toi Takatāpui (2023), they have contributed to several anthologies and collaborative zines. Ranapiri also has a number of self-published chapbooks and zines. Their work has appeared in publications such as Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa, The Spinoff, Starling, Landfall, Ōrongohau: Best New Zealand Poems, and Sport.

In addition to writing, ranapiri is a visual artist. Their artwork was featured in the 2019 exhibition Queer Algorithms at the Gus Fisher Gallery, where they explored the intersection of visual art and poetry. They have participated in literary festivals such as Verb Wellington, WORD Christchurch, and the Auckland Writers Festival. In 2023, they received the Janet Frame Poetry Award, recognising excellence in poetry, and the inaugural Keri Hulme Award honouring perseverance in Māori literature.