Ataria Sharman Photo: supplied
Photo: supplied
Ataria Sharman knows how tough it is to make a living as a writer.
The essayist, poet, social entrepreneur and editor at The Pantograph Punch is constantly looking for new ways to encourage Māori - particularly wahine Māori - to publish their work.
In 2018, Ataria set up the social enterprise Awa Wahine. It offers a platform to tautoko (support) wahine Māori in their creativie and entrepreneurial endeavours.
Now Ataria is turning her attention to the next generation, publishing a fantasy book for young readers that's filled with Māori characters and culture.
Hine and the Tohunga Portal leads the two tamariki Māori main characters, Hine and Hōhepa, into a world where moa and giant eagles still roam the forests but it's under threat from an evil sorcerer.
Hine and the Tohunga Portal by Ataria Sharman is published by Huia.
