Tusiata Avia

Tusiata Avia is an internationally acclaimed poet, and performer. She has published 4 collections of poetry and 5 children’s books. Her first book of poems, Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, was also adapted for the stage; most notably off-Broadway, where it took out the 2019 Fringe Encore Series Outstanding Production of the Year.

Tusiata was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to poetry and the arts in 2021. Her most recent book, The Savage Coloniser Book won the 2021 Best Book of Poetry at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.