Steph MatukuSteph Matuku

Steph Matuku lives in Taranaki. She creates marketing material for a living but prefers to write entertaining stories for children and teens. Her first novel for young adults is to be published with Huia Publishers. Steph was born in Kaitaia in 1973.

Inside the seedy, succulent world of online houseplant obsessives

by

Houseplants have become celebrities, commanding huge fees, bitterly fought over in digital marketplaces. Domestic foliage addict Steph Matuku dishes the dirt. I am writing this surrounded by a fittonia, two monsteras, three dracaenas and a golden pothos. If you know what I’m talking about, congratulations, you are my people. If you don’t, where on earth … Read more

More than just her body: the amazingness of Parris Goebel

by

Steph Matuku reviews the new book by Parris Goebel – dancer, superstar, role model for Polynesian youth. Parris Goebel is so driven and motivated I had to read the book lying down just to catch my breath. Short story: realised at a very young age that she loved dance and dropped out of school at … Read more

The ‘Māori’ episode of Justin Time is really, really messed up

by

If you’ve seen the ‘Māori’ episode of kids show Justin Time Go, you’ll know how batshit it is. Steph Matuku breaks down the mess that is ‘Let’s Haka Dance!’ I don’t care what the experts say, telly is a great babysitter. That’s especially true in the hell zone from 5pm when my kids are tired … Read more