For the second time, Tā Pou Temara has been named the winner of Te Mūrau o te Tuhi, the supreme award for reo Māori books, at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

Te Mūrau o te Tuhi Māori award recognises excellence in Māori literature for a book written in te reo Māori. Last night, Tā Pou became the first person to win this major award twice – in 2024 he won for Te Rautakitahi o Tūhoe ki Ōrākau and now in 2026 the award goes to Tā Pou for Te Āhua o ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti.

As the judge of the award, Hone Morris, noted 'Ko Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti, he mahi rangahau nui whakahirahira e wānanga ana i te rētōtanga, te mana, me te toitūtanga o ngā kupu whakaari me ngā whakataukī, me te hononga ā-ngākau ki te whakapono, ki te whenua, ki te hītori, me te tangata. Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti is a significant scholarly work that examines the depth, authority, and enduring power of kupu whakaari and whakataukī, and the intimate connections to faith, land, history, and people.' 

We are thrilled to see Tā Pou’s inestimable contribution to Māori language and writing honoured with this prestigious award.   

Sam Elworthy, Auckland University Press Director says, 'Taputapu kē! Kāore i tua atu i a koe Tā Pou mō te rere o te reo me te hōhonu o te Mātauranga. Te pai hoki o tā tātou mahitahi e pā ana ki ngā pukapuka kua whakaputaina kē, me ngā pukapuka kāore anō kia puta mai! Nō mātou te whiwhi!'

E rere kau ana ngā mihi to all the winners and finalists! For more info, visit the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards website.