Story Hemi-Morehouse

Story Hemi-Morehouse (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) was born in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and moved to Australia when she was young. She was always obsessed with comics and drawing and turned her love of illustrating into a career. Story's first published book, Mokopuna Matatini/The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth by Pania Tahau-Hodges, was shortlisted for four awards in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2022. She has since added several more picture books to her portfolio and in 2023 Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro/How My Koro Became a Star, with author Brianne Te Paa, was a finalist in the Best Picture Book and won Te Kura Pounamu Award. Story lives and works on Yugumbeh Country (Gold Coast, Australia) and, thanks to the flexibilty of freelance work, also gets to spend regular time in Aotearoa.

Books by Story Hemi-Morehouse

Blue, Blue Christmas

Anna Coddington, Story Hemi-Morehouse

Forget the woolly jumpers, yule logs and snow, this kid is going to show Santa Claus how we do Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere - with sunglasses, beach cricket, surfing and barbecues!

He Kirihimete Kahurangi

Anna Coddington, Story Hemi-Morehouse

Told in te reo Māori, this charming story dispenses with woolly jumpers, yule logs and snow, and instead shows Santa how we celebrate Christmas in Aotearoa - with sunglasses, beach cricket, surfing and barbecues!

Awards & recognition

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner • 2023 • Te Kura Pounamu Award for Kua Wheturangitia a Koro

More features

Article

Blue, Blue Christmas colouring sheet

Get into the holiday spirit with this Blue, Blue Christmas colouring in activity!