Mere Whaanga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mere Whaanga is a New Zealand writer, illustrator, historian, researcher and academic whose work includes bilingual picture books, history books and conference papers. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards and she herself has received a number of awards, grants, fellowships and writing residencies. She lives in Māhia, Hawke's Bay.
Mere Joslyn (Komako) Whaanga (also published under the name Mere Whaanga-Schollum)[1] was born on 23 January 1952[2] in Wairoa, Hawke's Bay.[3] She grew up on an isolated sheep station near Gisborne on the East Coast of New Zealand[1] and was educated at Hukarere Māori Girls' College and Gisborne Girls' High School.[4]
After leaving school, she had various jobs including laboratory assistant, sales rep and tutor[4] before returning to study as a mature student.[5] She studied Te Reo Māori Paetoru at Tairawhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne in 1992–1993 and went on to complete a graduate diploma in Māori Development from Massey University in 1994 and an MPhil in Māori Studies, also from Massey University, in 1999.[4][5][6] She has a doctorate from the University of Waikato on Māori land law.[7][8] Her doctoral research was supervised by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku.[9]
Mere Whaanga's writing includes history books, bilingual picture books, conference papers, articles, poetry and reviews. Her artwork has also featured in exhibitions in New Zealand and Australia.[4]
She lives in Mahia[3] and is of Ngāti Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Kahungunu descent.[1][4]
Mere Whaanga's three children are practising artists - Miriama Reid, Desna Whaanga-Schollum and Clem Whaanga-Schollum.[10]
