Here are the best short stories from the 2019 Pikihuia Awards for Maori writers as judged by Scotty Morrison, Robyn Bargh, Tuehu Harris, Whiti Hereaka, Poia Rewi and Carol Hirschfeld. This competition, run by the Maori Literature Trust and Huia Publishers, is held every two years to promote Māori writers and their work. This year, the awards sought short fiction from first-time, emerging and published writers in te reo Māori and English.The competition attracts several hundred entries each year from younger to older writers and those who are starting out to seasoned authors. This collection of finalists' fiction celebrates Maori writing, introduces new talentand enables Māori writers to shine.