News & Blog

13/5/2026 0 Comments

Celebrating KEKENO!

I’m so happy to see our lovely new book make it out into the big wide world (or at least all over Aotearoa)! There was no formal launch event this time, but I had a little celebration for KEKENO at home with my nearest and dearest.

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1/5/2026 0 Comments

KEKENO is here!

PUBLICATION DAY!!!
KEKENO, Curious Explorer wandered into bookstores today!
I'm so grateful to everyone who helped bring KEKENO to life:
The illustrations by Ned Barraud are gorgeous!
Published by Scholastic New Zealand - huge thanks to the team for all they do.
Design by Vida & Luke Kelly Design - top notch as always.
Thank you to my wonderful critique buddies (you know who you are) and my lovely agent Frances Plumpton.

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16/2/2026 0 Comments

Cover Reveal!

I'm extremely excited to share the cover of our new nonfiction picture book - how cute is this baby fur seal?!
KEKENO, Curious Explorer is written by me and illustrated by the incredible Ned Barraud. The story follows a New Zealand fur seal pup for the first year of his life, from the rocky shore where he is born, where he learns to swim, dive and catch fish, to leaving home and exploring the world. KEKENO will be wandering into bookstores in early May.

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17/11/2025 2 Comments

RURU flies to Denmark!

RURU, Night Hunter is now available in a beautiful hardcover edition in Danish language from Bogoo Books, Denmark.

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6/11/2025 0 Comments

2025 Notable Book Awards

I’m delighted that PEKAPEKA has been selected for a Notable Book Award by Storylines, the Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand! There are so many wonderful pukapuka on these lists including AT HOME ON THE FARM by my co-creator Ned Barraud. You can read the full list of notables here.

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18/8/2025 1 Comment

2025 NZCYA Awards

Wow, what an incredible night at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults! Thank you to the judges and everyone involved behind the scenes in organising this brilliant event. It was such an honour to be a finalist.

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10/7/2025 0 Comments

RURU is a Crystal Kite Finalist!

I'm thrilled our book RURU Night Hunter has made it to the final round of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards! It is such an honour to be selected by your peers at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

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1/7/2025 0 Comments

Publication Day!

PEKAPEKA Secret Forest Bat is zip, zap, zooming into bookstores this week!
I'm so grateful to everyone who helped in bringing PEKAPEKA to life:
The Illustrations by Ned Barraud are AMAZING (some of my favourites below).
Published by Scholastic NZ.
Designed by Vida Kelly.
Thank you also to my wonderful critique buddies (you know who you are) and my agent Frances Plumpton.

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6/6/2025 11 Comments

RURU is a NZCYA Finalist!!!

I'm absolutely delighted that our book RURU, Night Hunter is a finalist in the Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction! It is such an honour to be selected at this level and I'm most grateful to the all the people who have helped RURU on its journey so far - thank you to the team at Scholastic, Vida Kelly, Frances Plumpton, my writer friends and critique buddies.

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7/5/2025 3 Comments

Book Week at Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School

This week I visited Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School in Flatbush, Auckland during their Book Week. I had a great day reading RURU, Night Hunter and TUATARA, A living Treasure and speaking about our special native species with many enthusiastic tamariki in year 1-3 classes. Here's some photos: