Rob Tuwhare
for Hone Tuwhare

Rob Tuwhare is a Trustee and whanau representative for the Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust, and his late father's literary executor. He lives in Auckland and is a carpenter.

​Hone Tuwhare (1922–2008) was New Zealand’s most distinguished Māori poet writing in English. He was born in Kaikohe into the Ngāpuhi tribe (hapu Ngati Korokoro, Ngati Tautahi, Te Popoto, Uri-o-hau). He began writing during his apprenticeship on the railways, where he became involved in trade unions. He was an organiser of the first Maori Writers and Artists Conference at Te Kaha in 1973 and participated in the Maori Land March of 1975. Tuwhare won two Montana NZ Book Awards, was Te Mata Poet Laureate 1999–2001, and held two honorary doctorates in literature. In 2003 he was among ten of New Zealand’s greatest living artists named as Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Artists. In July 2010 The Hone Tuwhare Charitable trust was formed in honour of Hone Tuwhare. Their goal is 'to inspire people through the preservation, promotion, and celebration of Hone’s legacy'.
 

Rob Tuwhare at DWRF 2017
A Circle of Laureates