Tēnā koutou katoa, Where to start with the absolute state of 2026? In Aotearoa, every household staple costs $50, imported culture war issues pollute the news cycle, and 1-in-100-year weather events occur with every big storm. In the wider world, annihilatory wars of choice are as fashionable as hot honey, mothballed killer diseases are back,…
Tēnā koutou katoa, Kelly Ana Morey’s sudden passing leaves takahē magazine bereft of a voice that had only just begun to shape our pages. As our Essays Editor, she brought the same qualities that defined her fiction and criticism: wit, clarity, and an uncompromising eye, to the work of stewarding others’ writing. Kelly joined takahē…
Tēnā koutou katoa, Nau mai, haere mai to our August 2025 issue of takahē! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports us, whether by reading the magazine, submitting work, donating, buying a back issue or merch, sharing our content, or sending feedback. And of course, to our incredible contributors who have stitched their bold…
With this new issue comes our first of 2025 after what’s felt like a punishing year in Aotearoa New Zealand. With job losses across the country, in particular 11.6% of jobs in Wellington being cut, our elected officials forging ahead in their attempts to disempower Māori and undermine our founding document Te Tiriti o Waitangi,…
Tēnā koutou katoa, Welcome to T111, the August 2024 issue of takahē! The number 111 is supposed to be auspicious, portending opportunity and achievement and general good vibes. We could all use a bit of that. Wars are ongoing, housing and food are eye-wateringly expensive, 2024 is likely to be hottest year ever recorded on…
Welcome to the very first takahē Fiction Readers’ Issue! This special mini-issue of takahē features five stories selected and co-edited by members of our Fiction Reading Team: Melanie Kwang, Rebecca Reader, Rebecca Styles, Clare Travaglia, Philippa Tucker, and Jill Varani. Our Fiction Reading Team usually works behind the scenes, with 20 members dedicating their time…
‘Poetry,’ wrote W. H. Auden, ‘makes nothing happen.’ The vitriolic political furore that erupted around poet Tusiata Avia and her poem about Captain Cook, ‘The Savage Coloniser,’ around this time last year would seem to suggest that this is, in fact, not the case. This was a case of something very much happening, indeed, breathtakingly…
Tēnā koutou katoa We know how busy December gets for many people, so the takahē team has worked hard to bring you our 109th issue early in the month. We’re sure you’ll find plenty inside from our contributors to challenge, delight, and move you, and hope takahē will find a special spot in your summer…
Tēnā koutou katoa Welcome to the August issue of takahē! This issue has been a work in progress as we embrace a digital approach, but our writers are as amazing as ever, and the contents brimful of energy and growth—so appropriate for an issue born on the edge of spring. The leadership and mahi of…