Tusiata Avia is a poet, performer and children’s book writer. Of Samoan descent, Avia was born and raised in Christchurch. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and her first collection of poetry was published in 2004. Avia’s work is rich in Pacific themes and her books for children have been published in Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands Maori, Nuiean, Tokelauan and English.
Avia was awarded the 2005 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers Residency at the University of Hawai’i, and was shortlisted for the 2006 Prize in Modern Letters.
Tusiata Avia appears in Poetry for Lunch
Back to Writers