| Olivia Aroha Giles | |
| Education: | Whitireia New Zealand |
Olivia Aroha Giles is a contemporary New Zealand Māori writer, artist, and designer, specialising in art textiles, design, illustration and writing. She writes children's books, novels, and short stories.[1]
Giles descends from Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ati Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Atihaunui-ā-Paparangi and Ngāti Hinekawa,[2] as well as being of Scottish and English descent.
In 2010 Olivia graduated from Whitireia New Zealand with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Textiles.
Giles released her first book in 2006 through Learning Media titled Two Homes. This popular children's book has been distributed through a variety of New Zealand Primary schools and was also re-released in 2008 as an Audiobook.[3]
Olivia was also short listed for Huia Publishers prestigious 'Pikihuia Short Story Awards' and was also published in their collection of 18 finalists. Her short story titled; 'Stepping outside the boxing' was a stand out piece in the collection.[4] [5]
In 2013, Olivia published her first major novel through Dusky Productions Ltd titled Heart of the Tapu Stone.[6] This book is Part One of a Three-part trilogy titled 'Threads through the Whariki'. Heart of the Tapu Stone was included in the curriculum at Bonn University, where Giles then lectured, and they translated the novel.[7] The second book in this series; Feather from the Kakahu
Dusky is a Māori publishing company that Giles worked for, and helped start when they asked to publish her first novel, Heart of the Tapu Stone.[10]
Olivia lives in Porirua, New Zealand and is an active part of the local artistic community. She has worked alongside local artists in the creation of art pieces scattered across the small city, as well as curating and displaying at Pataka Gallery, Porirua. She has been involved in projects with well known New Zealand Maori artists; playwright and actor Tane Mahuta Grey.
Olivia and her husband, Scotty, have seven children.