Tusiata Avia


Donna Tusiata AVIA (1966-) is a poet, a performer, and children’s book writer. Avia is of Samoan descent, and her name, Tusiata, means both words: painter and artist. Avia was born and raised in Christchurch. She attended Canterbury University, before moving to Auckland and then overseas. From 1990 until 2001 Avia travelled and taught.  She spent time in Samoa, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Africa before returning to New Zealand in 2001. She is currently enrolled in the MA Creative Writing Programme at the International Institute of Modern Letters.

Tusiata Avia’s poetry has appeared in various literary journals including Turbine, Sport, and Takahe. Her radio works and her radio drama You Say Hawaii have been broadcast by Radio New Zealand (http://www.radionz.co.nz). She also works as a performance poet.