The Maori Literature Trust and Huia Publishers have announced the finalists for the Pikihuia Awards for Maori Writers 2007.

The Maori Literature Trust and Huia Publishers have announced the finalists for the Pikihuia Awards for Maori Writers 2007. Past winners and finalists include Paula Morris, Briar Grace-Smith and Isabel Waiti-Mulholland, as well as James George and Kelly Ana Morey (pictured) who were both judges for this year's awards.

The finalists of the novel extract and short story categories will be published in Huia Short Stories 7 and the finalists of the Maori short story category will be printed in Nga Pakiwaitara a Huia 4. This second collection, entirely in te reo Maori, will also include a selection of Maori language fiction previously published in the Huia Short Stories series. Both books will be launched on 15 September at the Festival of Maori Writers in Wellington.

The judges for this year's awards were: Kelly Ana Morey (best novel extract written in English); James George (best short story written in English); Barry Barclay (best short film script written in English); Wena Harawira (best short story written in Maori); Huia Publishers (best short story written in Maori or English by a secondary school student ).

Visit Huia's website to read the list of finalists. 25/7/07