BRIGHT writers
The people within the TU MAI team comprise professional practitioners, academics, accomplished, and dedicated writers. International articles are common-place. History, politics, environment, art, fashion, social and legal issues are regularly covered.
Ata Te Kanawa
Editor and Sales
Ata's involvement in print media has spanned more than a decade when she began in sales for the Waitomo News in the early 1990s and later for iwi owned and operated tabloid, Kia Hiwa Ra where she eventually moved into the editor's position. As a director in the company TU Mai Media Ltd, TU MAI Magazine with Ata as editor was launched in 1999 at Wellington's Te Papa Museum. These days, Ata retains her position as editor as well as managing director for TU MAI Media PLUS Ltd. Her commitment to TU MAI magazine is to ensure it has a balance of passive, positive, and provocative content. She believes TU MAI is an indigenous publication that assures, enlightens, and entertains.
Nathan Hoturoa Gray
Writer
Nathan Hoturoa Gray completed his International Relations and Law Honours degrees in his homeland of Wellington, New Zealand and at UC Davis California, USA. He has spent the past five years hitchhiking and exploring the divergent societal intricacies of over 45 cultures of his planet, including Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle east.
He has picked up eight languages on his 20,000 km of hitchhiking travels and has published most of his experiences in photography and written articles in several magazines around the world. Nathan's travel columns have enthralled and inspired readers. In 2006, Nathan published his first book 'First Pass under Heaven' which tracks his trials and tribulations in being one of the first four westerners to walk the Great Wall of China. It has received rave reviews and worldwide exposure. In 2008, Nathan embarks on another writing project entitled 'Embracing Colour' and is based in London. For more information visit www.greatwalldvd.com
Rosina Funua
Writer
Rosina has long contributed to TU MAI magazine as well as other mainstream papers including the NZ Herald on issues of controversy. Rosina's passion for writing and portraying alternative perspective is also evident in a number of documentaries she has written for and directed.
Leafa Wilson
Writer
Leafa's creative spirit is alive and well in both her enthusiasm for witing to capture people's candidness and honesty as well as her day job as a museum curator. Of Samoan, German, Maori and English descent, Leafa is a mum of 6 and a newcomer to the TU MAI team.
Lewis Scott
Writer
Lewis is an African American jazz poet/writer and world traveler. He was born in Cordele, Georgia (USA) and has published more than 15 books of poetry and prose as well as edited a number of anthologies. As an African American, Lewis seeks out the indigenous people wherever he goes. He has a deep sense of identification with Black people and People of Colour around the world who are engaged in their struggles for independence and justice.
James Johnston
Columnnist
James Johnston (Ngati Porou) is a lawyer and Chairman of Partners at Rainey Collins, Lawyers, Wellington. James has 20 years experience in the law profession and submits regular columns on legal matters for individual, businesses or organisations.
For more information visit www.raineycollins.co.nz
Hannah Ho
Writer
Chinese Hannah Ho Wai Ling is involved in grassroots activism around decolinisation, anti-racism, queer stuff, feminism and environmental stuff
Dr Taonui Rawiri
Columnnist
Dr Rawiri Taonui is an academic and is currently the Head of School of maori and Indidgenous Studies and Canterbury University in Christchurch. Rawiri contributes regularly to TU MAI on areas of education, politics and race relations. He is also a contributor to other mainstream publications.
Potaua Biasiny-Tule
Columnist
Potaua Biasiny-Tule (Tuhoe, Ngati Pikiao & Niuean) writes and works as a digital communicator and technological entrepreneur. He writes from experience as a digital practitioner, a communications tutor, a businessman, a tinkerer and believes that we are in the midst of a fierce digital revolution. Potaua sees the Maori community as potential pioneers in this new knowledge economy and is looking to stimulate like minds. His writing is a bridge between the digital and analogue generation, so to get full use of this instant geek, please, just add water..." For more information visit www.tangatawhenua.com
Veronica Johnston
Journalist
Veronica credits her love of writing and storytelling to her Irish roots. Her parents left Ireland in the sixties and went on to raise five children in Cambridge, New Zealand. Veronica studied English language teaching at Waikato University then travelled overseas. She lived in Japan and Canada for awhile before coming home and switching to journalism.
Kado Muir
Writer
Australian Aborigine Kado Muir is an artist, a traditional owner and custodian of law, knowledge and culture for the Ngalia people of the northern Goldfields. He is also an anthropologist and archaeologist who has worked extensively in Aboriginal cultural heritage management native title and sustainable development. Kado is a businessman with a background in research and a strong traditional Aboriginal cultural grounding. He is keen to see Industry and Aboriginal people, engage in collaborative partnerships for sustainable development addressing triple bottom line principles as a base standard. Kado is founder and director of Marnta Media Pty Ltd an Indigenous cross cultural communication company and Aboriginal Heritage Consultants Pty Ltd, an Aboriginal heritage research company. Email: admin@kado.com.au