Tusiata Avia

Who is Tusiata Avia?

Tusiata Avia is a New Zealand page and performance poet born to a Samoan father and Palagi mother. Her poetry explores Pacifica and cross-cultural themes, as well as the borders between traditional and contemporary life, and between place and the self.

She has toured both nationally and internationally performing her solo show Wild Dogs Under My Skirt which premiered at the 2002 Dunedin Fringe Festival.

Her first book of poetry, also titled Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, was published by Victoria University Press in 2004.

Avia has also written children's books.

Avia won the 2005 Fullbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency at the University of Hawai'i.

In 2006 Avia was shortlisted for the Prize in Modern Letters.

Her poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals such as Takahe, Sport and Turbine.