About Ataria Sharman.
Ataria Sharman (Tapuika, Ngāpuhi) is an editor and writer. Born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, she now lives in Hikurangi, Whangārei, Te Tai Tokerau.
Ataria has a Master of Arts and spent a year researching mana wahine and atua wāhine and interviewing Māori women about their experiences with atua wāhine.
The manuscript for her children's fiction novel Hine and the Tohunga Portal was one of five selected for the Te Papa Tupu writing mentorship programme in 2018 and went on to be published by Huia in 2021. Hine and the Tohunga Portal was a finalist in the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Youth and Children.
Hine and the Tohunga Portal lead the two tamariki Māori main characters, Hine and Hōhepa, into a world where moa and giant eagles still roam the forests, but they’re under threat from an evil sorcerer.
In a review for Hooked on NZ Books, young reader Zelie describes it as “a very adventurous book… I love the jokes and the combat in the story; you feel and empathise with the characters instead of just reading about them. This is not the same as other books that I’ve read.”
For Kete, reviewer Dan Rabarts writes, “by turns endearing and brutal; The Tohunga Portal has all the elements readers would expect of a mythic apocalyptic middle-grade novel.”
The creator of Awa Wahine, a platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the voices of wāhine Māori, Ataria, has self-published a collection of writings on the atua wāhine and a printed magazine of work by the group. She was formerly the editor of The Pantograph Punch.
In 2021, Ataria received the Verb Festival micro residency in Wellington. In 2023, Ataria was among 15 editors selected for inclusion in The Next Page 2023: Editors, a programme hosted by The Spinoff in partnership with North & South, Pantograph Punch, Ensemble and E-Tangata.
Author and book images are available for download here.
Publications.
RESIDENCIES, FESTIVALS & AWARDS
2023 Writing for Young People with Steph Matuku at Kupu Māori Writers Festival
2023 Selected for The Next Page 2023: Editors
2022 Ataria Sharman with Chanel Clarke at Upsurge Festival
2021 Atua Wāhine with Whiti Hereaka and Ngahuia Murphy at Verb Festival
2021 Verb Festival Micro Residency
2018 Selected for Te Papa Tupu by the Māori Literature Trust
AUTHORED BOOKS
Sharman, A. (2023). Undersea Adventure. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
Sharman, A. (2021). Hine and the Tohunga Portal. Wellington: Huia Publishers.
SELECTED ARTICLES
Sharman, A. (2024). Climate change, community, kai: How extreme weather impacts Māori food systems. The Spinoff. Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/03-09-2024/climate-change-community-kai-how-extreme-weather-impacts-maori-food-systems
Sharman, A. (2024). Designers Elisapeta Heta, Jade Kake and Raukura Turei on Kaupapa Māori design for climate change. Assemble Papers. Retrieved from https://assemblepapers.com.au/2024/07/11/architects-elisapeta-heta-jade-kake-and-raukura-turei-on-kaupapa-maori-design-for-climate/
Sharman, A. (2023). No one had ever spoken to me about miscarriage. I’m talking about mine. Renews. Retrieved from https://www.renews.co.nz/no-one-had-ever-spoken-to-me-about-miscarriage-im-talking-about-mine/
Sharman, A. (2023). A hangover of a colonial past: why we have narrow views on relationships. Renews. Retrieved from https://www.renews.co.nz/a-hangover-of-a-colonial-past-why-we-have-narrow-views-on-relationships/
Sharman, A. (2023). The extraordinary circumstances that led to writing Patu: The New Zealand Wars. The Spinoff. Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/26-10-2023/the-extraordinary-circumstances-that-led-to-patu-the-new-zealand-wars
Sharman, A. (2023). Reclaiming my reo is scary. Here's how I'm pushing through. Renews. Retrieved from https://www.renews.co.nz/reclaiming-my-reo-is-scary-heres-how-im-pushing-through-2/
Sharman, A. (2023). The Limited Edition, Handmade Māori Blankets That Tell Timeless Stories. Broadsheet. Retrieved from https://www.broadsheet.com.au/new-zealand/home-and-lifestyle/article/limited-edition-handmade-maori-blankets-tell-timeless-stories
Kino, S., & Sharman, A.(2023). ‘Children’s and YA novel writing’ in Piahana-Wong, K., & Rapatahana, V. (Ed.), Te Awa o Kupu (pp. xx-xx). New Zealand: Penguin.
Sharman, A. (2023). Artist Simon Kaan on Finding Inspiration and Tranquillity in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Broadsheet. Retrieved from https://www.broadsheet.com.au/new-zealand/travel/article/artist-simon-kaan-finding-inspiration-tranquility-otepoti-dunedin
Sharman, A. (2023). A Masterchef Winner on the Tastes That Inspire Him Around Auckland. Broadsheet. Retrieved from https://www.broadsheet.com.au/new-zealand/travel/article/masterchef-winner-tastes-inspire-him-around-auckland
Sharman, A. (2023). It's an indigenous thing to write in every kind of genre and form. Stuff NZ. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/131012990/its-an-indigenous-thing-to-decide-to-write-in-every-kind-of-genre-and-form
Sharman, A. (2023). The Christchurch Pop Star Singing in Te Reo. Broadsheet. Retrieved from https://www.broadsheet.com.au/new-zealand/travel/article/christchurch-pop-star-singing-te-reo
Sharman, A. (2022). How colonisation has changed the naked body. Renews. Retrieved from https://www.renews.co.nz/how-colonisation-has-changed-the-naked-body/
Sharman, A. (2022). Dr Hinemoa Elder on writing Wawata - the book she wishes she had growing up. Stuff NZ. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/130076971/dr-hinemoa-elder-on-writing-wawata--the-book-she-wish-she-had-growing-up
Sharman, A. (2022). Dr Awanui Te Huia wishes support for te reo Māori went beyond one week. Stuff NZ. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/sunday-magazine/people-ideas/300687368/dr-awanui-te-huia-wishes-support-for-te-reo-mori-went-beyond-one-week
Sharman, A. (2022). The moment Troy Kingi thought his career was over. Stuff NZ. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300681447/the-moment-troy-kingi-thought-his-career-was-over
Sharman, A. (2022). Battling storms with celestial navigator Jack Thatcher. Stuff NZ. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/129593347/battling-storms-with-celestial-navigator-jack-thatcher
Sharman, A. (2022). Off The Beaten Track with Chevron Hassett. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/chevron-hassett
Sharman, A. (2022). Bush. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/bush
Sharman, A. (2022). Off The Beaten Track with Hamish Peterson. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/hamish-peterson
Sharman, A. (2022). Heat Wave. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/heat-wave
Sharman, A. (2021). On the Importance of Representation in Children’s Literature. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/ataria-sharman-on-the-importance-of-representation-in-children-in-literature/PHGGMOTLAAENQV6W465JEY6F7Y/
Sharman, A. (2021). Embracing Māori birth traditions is changing the future for Northland families. The Spinoff. Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/10-12-2021/embracing-maori-birth-traditions-is-changing-the-future-for-northland-families
Sharman, A. (2021). Vessel. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/vessel
Sharman, A. (2021). Māori Livestream Gamers. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/maori-livestream-gamers
Sharman, A. (2021). Off The Beaten Track with Justice Hetaraka. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/justice-hetaraka
Sharman, A. (2021). Inhale | Exhale. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/inhale-exhale
Sharman, A. (2021). All Aboard [Feature on the Men’s Shed Whangārei]. Heritage New Zealand Magazine, Kōanga Spring, Issue 162. 31-33.
Sharman, A. (2021). Formless Potential. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/formless-potential
Sharman, A. (2021). Off The Beaten Track with Shelly Matiu. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/shelly-matiu
Sharman, A. (2021). Te Kore. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/te-kore
Sharman, A. (2021). Teenagehood. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/teenagehood
Sharman, A. (2021). Off The Beaten Track with Frances Stachl The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/frances-stachl
Sharman, A. (2020). What’s up with Housing? The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/whats-up-with-housing
Sharman, A. (2020). Off The Beaten Track with Leonard Murupaenga. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/leonard-murupaenga
Sharman, A. (2020). Off The Beaten Track with Tania Rule. The Pantograph Punch. Retrieved from https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/off-the-beaten-track-with-tania
EDITED PUBLICATIONS
Sharman, A., Hart, C., Overbye, S. (Eds). (2023). Awa Wahine Magazine, (Whā). Whangārei, New Zealand: Awa Wahine.
Sharman, A., Hart, C., Overbye, S. (Eds). (2023). Awa Wahine Magazine, (Toru). Whangārei, New Zealand: Awa Wahine.
Sharman, A., Te Rina Smith, E., Overbye, S. (Eds). (2022). Awa Wahine Magazine, (Rua). Whangārei, New Zealand: Awa Wahine.
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2022). Awa Wahine Magazine, (Tahi). Whangārei, New Zealand: Awa Wahine.
Sharman, A., Hart, C., Wilson, F., Overbye, S., & Teague S. (Eds). (2021). Atua Wāhine: A Collection of Writings by Wāhine Māori. Whangārei, New Zealand: Awa Wahine.
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2022). The Pantograph Punch, Bush. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/bush
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2022). The Pantograph Punch, Heat Wave. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/heat-wave
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2021). The Pantograph Punch, Vessel. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/vessel
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2021). The Pantograph Punch, Inhale | Exhale. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/inhale-exhale
Sharman, A.(Ed). (2021). The Pantograph Punch, Formless Potential. Retrieved from https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/formless-potential
RESEARCH
Sharman, A. (2019). Master’s thesis, University of Wellington. Retrieved from https://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/handle/10063/8639
QUALIFICATIONS
Master of Arts in Māori Studies
Bachelor of Arts (First Class Hons) in Māori Resource Management
Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management
Media.
TE AO MĀORI NEWS
An interview with Piripi Taylor on using Māori lore to inspire rangatahi.
STANDING ROOM ONLY
An interview with Lynn Freeman on Radio New Zealand.
AFTERNOONS WITH JESSE MULLIGAN
Claire Mabey reviews Hine and the Tohunga Portal by Ataria Sharman, Ten Acceptable Acts of Arson by Jack Cottrell, and Small Bodies of Water by Nina Mingya Powles on Radio New Zealand.
NZ BOOKLOVERS
Ataria Sharman talks to NZ Booklovers about Hine and the Tohunga Portal.
HERITAGE NZ MAGAZINE
Behind the story with writer Ataria Sharman in the Kōanga Spring 2021 issue.