Whiti Hereaka

ABOUT

In Brief

Whiti is a Wellington based writer who has written for the stage, radio, film and has recently had her debut novel, The Graphologist’s Apprentice, published by Huia.

In Detail

Whiti Hereaka was born in Taupo in 1978. She is of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa descent. She moved to Wellington to study at Victoria University and has since made it her home.

Whiti holds a MA in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters, a BA in English Literature from Victoria University, Wellington. Whiti has also been recently admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

Whiti is a critically acclaimed playwright. In 2005 her play Collective Agreement was produced as part of that year’s Young and Hungry season. In 2011, her play For Johnny will also be performed as part of the Young and Hungry season.

I Ain’t Nothing But, an existential farce, was commissioned for the 2006 STAB season in Wellington.

Whiti’s play Te Kaupoi won the Adam New Play Award Best New Play by a Maori Playwright in 2010. Te Kaupoi toured Wellington and Papakura that year.

Her debut short film Unclaimed Luggage (produced by Kiwa Films, directed by Ramon Te Wake) is currently in post production.

Whiti has also been a contributing writer for the radio series Hui Hopping on Radio New Zealand.

The Graphologist’s Apprentice is Whiti’s first novel. The novel’s Wellington setting was heavily influenced by her time as the Randell Cottage Writer in residence in 2007; the botanical gardens and Bolton Street cemetery feature in particular.

Whiti is currently working on a play based on the poetry of Rowley Habib and her second novel.