Robyn Bargh

Robyn Rangihuia Bargh CNZM (née Young) is a publisher and a director, council or board member of many organisations in the book industry and other arts-related organisations in New Zealand. Her work has been recognised with a number of prestigious awards including the Women in Publishing New Venture Award (1994), the Te Waka Toi Te Tohu Toi Kē Award (2006) and the Book Industry Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), and she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 New Year Honours. Bargh is of Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuarā and Ngāti Awa descent.[1][2]

Bargh in 2012

Biography

Bargh was brought up on a farm in Horohoro, 15 km south of Rotorua and went to school in Rotorua.[2] Her mother was Hepora Raharuhi and her father was Robert Young, and she grew up as Robyn Young.[3] She trained as a teacher[4] in Hamilton and studied for a Bachelor of Arts at Massey University, where in 1974 she met her future husband Brian Bargh,[5] then studying for a Master of Agricultural Science.[6]

Her career in publishing started in 1980 when she and Brian moved to Papua New Guinea for several years with their two children[7] and Bargh worked as a researcher and editor at the University of Papua New Guinea.[8] When they returned to New Zealand, she worked in editing, publishing and policy jobs in various government departments.[4] In 1991, Bargh and her husband founded Huia Publishers with the aim of bringing a Māori perspective to New Zealand literature by encouraging Māori writers and revitalising the Māori language with the publication of Māori language and teaching and learning materials.[9][1] In 1995, she established the Huia Short Story Awards for Maori Writers[10] (now the Pikihuia Awards).[9][11]

Huia Publishers was named from part of Bargh's own name, Rangihuia.[3]

Boards and directorships

Bargh retired from her management role at Huia Publishers in 2014 but remains on the Board of Directors.[12]

She is the Chair of the Māori Literature Trust,[13] Deputy Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara,[14] Director of Te Puia, the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (huia), a member of the Victoria University Council[4] and a trustee of the Herewahine Farms Trust.[13] She has also been a member of the Council of the Publishers Association of New Zealand.[15]

Robyn was a member of the Establishment Group for Māori Television and a trustee of Te Awhiorangi/Te Reo Māori Television Trust. She has chaired boards of Booksellers New Zealand[16] and the theatre company Taki Rua Productions.[9][4]

Awards and honours

Bargh's work and achievements have been recognised with a number of awards. These include the Women in Publishing New Venture Award in 1994,[9] the Te Waka Toi Te Tohu Toi Kē Award in 2006[17] and the Massey University 75th Anniversary Medal for Distinguished Service in 2002.[18]

In the New Year Honours List 2012, she was made a Companion of the Order of New Zealand for services to the Māori language and publishing.[19]

In August 2018, she received the 2018 Book Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her work as founder and director of Huia Publishers, and her role in continuing leadership in the field of Māori literature.[20][21]

Bibliography 
  • Stories on the Four Winds: Ngā Hau e Whā (edited by Brian Bargh and Robyn Bargh) (Huia Publishers, 2016)

References
  1. "Huia Publishers 21 Years in Flight". Te Puni Kōkiri. Spring 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. Akuhata, Whare (1 February 2012). "Putting Maori stories into print". NZ Herald (Rotorua Daily Post). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. Husband, Dale (3 February 2019). "Robyn Bargh: Building the wall of tino rangatiratanga". E-Tangata. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. "Structure and membership". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  5. "Authors: Brian Bargh". Huia. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  6. "Huia taking on the world of indigenous publishing". Massey University Te Kunenga ki Purehuroa. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. Husband, Dale (19 September 2016). "Interview: Dr Maria Bargh: Why weren't we taught our history at school?". ESocSci. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  8. "Featured Member: Robyn Bargh, Managing Director, Huia Publishers". Publishers Association of New Zealand. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  9. "Robyn Bargh, CNZM, Wellington". The Governor-General of New Zealand. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  10. "Short Story Awards for Maori and English writers". The Big Idea. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  11. "The Pikihuia Awards 2019". Māori Literature Trust: Te Waka Taki Kōrero. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  12. "Authors: Robyn Bargh". Huia. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  13. "Trustees". Māori Literature Trust: Te Waka Taki Kōrero. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  14. "Te Runanga O Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara". Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  15. "PANZ Council 2013–14". Publishers Association of New Zealand. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  16. "Booksellers NZ pays tribute to Hone Tuwhare". Booksellers New Zealand. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  17. "Te Waka Toi Awards". Creative New Zealand. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  18. "Notes and news: What's been happening in the lives of Massey alumni" (PDF). Massey: 32. November 2002.
  19. "New Year Honours List 2012". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  20. "Ground-breaking Māori publisher recognised for her life's work alongside cream of Book Trade". Booksellers NZ. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  21. "Ground-breaking Māori publisher recognised for her life's work at Book Industry awards". NZSA The New Zealand Society of Authors (Pen NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
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