Writers in Te Reo

Hera is a singer and an experienced storyteller in te reo Maori and has been performing her storytelling at events and festivals since 1997.

19 Mar 2006
 
Hera Taute is of Tuhoe, Whanau Apanui and Tuwharetoa descent. She is passionate about te reo Maori (the Maori language). This passion is reflected in all areas of her life including her whanau (family), mahi (work) and creative endeavours such as writing and storytelling.

Hera has had her work included in several school journals for children, published by Learning Media and Huia Publishers . She has also written plays for theatre including 'Nga Moemoea,' commissioned by Taki Rua Theatre in 1999 which toured to kura kaupapa and kohanga reo throughout New Zealand.

Hera is also an experienced storyteller in te reo Maori and has been performing storytelling at events and festivals since 1997.

In an interview with Kokiri Paetae 24, 1999 she described how she became involved in the art of storytelling: "I guess you could say my upbringing was the catalyst in determining the sort of work I needed to do. I grew up around the old people who always shared their life experience with us as kids. My nanny Hine Whakaataia used to teach us whakapapa (genealogy) through the many stories she told. I loved to listen to her, and at an early age i knew what I wanted to do."