Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand | Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa
Winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award 2026.
Tim Tipene was adopted into the Waitai Tipene family as an infant and raised in two cultures, NZ Māori and NZ European. His Iwi affiliations are Ngāti Kurī, Te Uri-o-Hau and Ngāti Whātua.First published in 1996, Tim is an award-winning author of children’s picture books and junior and teenage novels, including the Pipi and Pou series and The Book That Wouldn’t Read.
In 1994, Tim created Warrior Kids, a self-control and social skills programme for children and teens. For 28 years Tim ran Warrior Kids in schools and communities, changing the lives of thousands of young people and their families. In recognition of his contribution to the lives of others, Tim was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013, and awarded a Kiwibank Local Hero Medal in 2015.
A renowned speaker, Tim has been inspiring and entertaining audiences young and old for over 25 years.
Tim is also a trained counsellor with a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and holds multiple Black Belt Ranks and teaching titles in various Martial Arts.
Website: timtipene.com