Cultural Fund Selection Panel

5 September 2023

E ai ki te whakataukī

Paiheretia ngā wawata
Paiheretia ngā kōrero
Paiheretia ngā tāngata
Paiheretia ki te rangimarie

According to this proverb:

Bring together the aspirations
Bring together the stories
Bring together the people
Bring all together - in peace.

A mokopuna of the iwi of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Awa, and a former soldier of Ngāti Tūmatauenga, the New Zealand Army, K.M Harris is a kai-tuhi Māori whose writing journey began in 2013 in Sydney, Australia. She made connections with Indigenous Australian writers and creatives, and Native American writers from Billings, Montana before returning to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2018. In 2019, she was awarded the Published Writer in English prize at the Pikihuia Awards Māori Writers that included a membership to join the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA). A year later, K.M Harris was humbled to serve in the inaugural NZSA Te Ao Māori Representative role on the NZSA Board, which is now named the Te Māngai Māori ki te Poari Representative currently held by Michelle Rahurahu.

K.M Harris brings the teachings and knowledge of her whānau and tūpuna along with her experience in the public service where her mahi has contributed to improving better outcomes for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand. Once she has completed her Poutuarongo Ahunga Tikanga at Te Wānanga o Raukawa (Bachelor of Māori Laws and Philosophy) she hopes to complete her Master's degree before committing to writing the taonga stories and whānau histories she longs to do.

Tony has had a career in publishing spanning over 40 years. Following various roles in the UK working in UK and international markets, Tony moved to New Zealand where he finally became Managing Director of HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd.

As well as leading the growth of New Zealand publishing within HarperCollins, Tony led the development of a number of ground breaking digital publishing initiatives. These were produced together with high profile external content developers and international partners

Beyond his role with HarperCollins, Tony was involved with a number of publishing and book trade organisations. He served on the Council of the Publishers Association of New Zealand from 2002 – 2009 and was President from 2009 – 2011.

In 2012 Tony was awarded Life Membership of the Publishers Association of New Zealand in recognition of his contribution to the industry. 2021 was the first year that Tony has been a selection panel member.

Abby Aitcheson has held various editorial roles at independent publishers and Penguin Random House imprints in Aotearoa and London. She has also worked as a freelance editor and as a bookseller for Time Out Books. She now finds herself working as a legal editor in Tokyo, but will always think of Tairāwhiti as home. 2021 was the first year that Abby has been a selection panel member.

Anne has been an active participant in the literature and publishing sector for more than thirty years. She has worked for major publishing houses in New Zealand and has also represented independent publishers with experience both in sales and in the role of Publisher.

Anne was Association Director of the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) from 2007 -2017.

The Director’s role focussed on supporting more than 85 book publisher members with advocacy, training initiatives, export opportunities and overall responsibility for the management of the Creative New Zealand International Programme for Literature, and Education NZ funding programmes.

Anne is now a consultant to the publishing industry and is based in Thames.

Anne was a selection panel member in 2018, 2019 and 2020 for the Contestable Fund Grants and is now an External Advisor for our Partnership Fund.