Tim Tipene

Tim Tipene
Born
Timothy Aldon Mead

(1972-06-12) 12 June 1972 (age 54)
New Zealand
OccupationsAuthor, motivational speaker, martial artist
Notable workWarrior Kids, Kura Toa, Pipi and Pou
ChildrenTaiyang Tipene, Tahlia Tipene
Websitetimtipene.com

Tim Tipene (born 12 June 1972) is a New Zealand author, motivational speaker, martial arts instructor, trained counsellor, and founder of the youth‑development programme Warrior Kids. He has published over 25 books for children and young adults, and is acknowledged for transforming his traumatic upbringing into tools for empowering thousands of others on a personal level.[1][2]

In 2026, Tipene received the Margaret Mahy Award for his contribution to children's literature.[3] His books have been the recipients of numerous awards, including the White Ravens International Youth Library Catalogue for "Taming The Taniwha" as one of the world's top 250 children books for 2002.[1], as well as a number of Storylines Notable Book Awards for "Pipi and Pou and the Firewoman" (2024),"Pipi and Pou and the Tentacles of the Deep" (2023), "Māui – Sun Catcher" (2017), and "The Wooden Fish" (2000). Tipene has also won honours regarding his contributions to the martial arts scene in New Zealand and for his work in wider communities through the Warrior Kids Programme, including being inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013 and being awarded a Kiwibank Local Hero Award in 2015 and 2016[1][2]

Early life

Tipene was born on 12 June 1972 in Henderson, Auckland to birth parents Annette Sherman and convicted sex offender Peter Mead.[4] He was adopted as an infant into the Waitai‑Tipene family under adoptive father Willie Tipene with his birth mother Annette (Sherman) Tipene.[5][6] Raised in a bicultural environment, with his European appearance contrasting with his Māori name, Tipene often experienced identity questions and exclusion from either cultural side.[7] He affiliates with Ngāti Kurī, Te Uri‑o‑Hau, and Ngāti Whātua iwi[1]

At the age of 12, Tipene started learning martial arts through Go Shintai Kai Karate And Judo under founder Peter Lee in Dairy Flat, Auckland. The classes incorporated Shotokan Karate and Judo, to which Tipene enjoyed and credits with helping him learn self control.[5][8] Tipene continued training, eventually discovering other martial arts such as Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu, Kung Fu, and Aikido.[7][5] Tipene went on to earn multiple ranks and teaching titles in various martial arts including but not limited to a 5th Dan and a Shidoshi license (instructor's certificate) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, awarded in Japan, 2009 by Dr Masaaki Hatsumi, and a 5th Dan in Ai Shin Do Bujutsu (mixed martial arts) awarded in New Zealand, 2007.[1][8][9]

In 2013, Tipene was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame, recognised for his peaceful contribution to the martial arts scene in New Zealand[10]

Career

Tipene began working at Mount Tabor Trust in Kaukapakapa, Auckland as a residential support person in 1992 until 1994, to which he founded Kura Toa Trust, also known as the Families for Nonviolence Trust.[6]

Warrior Kids

In the same year, Tipene went on to create Warrior Kids,[11] a life skills programme that delivers foundational therapeutic skills in self control, anger management, and emotional awareness through martial arts, catered towards all ages.[2][6] Tipene continued to run Warrior Kids in schools and communities nationwide for almost three decades until 2022, assisting and mentoring the lives of thousands of children and adults and their families, while only ever receiving funding for a period of 6 months.[7][5]

Writing career

Tipene's first book "The Wooden Fish" was published in 1996.[12] Since then, he has authored over 25 books, including picture books, junior novels, memoirs, and manuals.

Counselling, speaking, and honours

As a speaker, Tipene has delivered talks through Storylines, Duffy Books in Homes, the NZ Book Council, Getting Kids into Books, Writers in Schools, and the Auckland Writers Festival. He also served as part of the Sir Peter Blake Dream Team of Leaders.[1][2][13][14]

Tipene is a trained counsellor with a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.[6]

Publications

Year Published Title Illustrator ISBN Ref
1999 The Wooden Fish Jennifer Cooper 1869488261 [12]
2001 Taming the Taniwha Henry Campbell 1-877266-52-3 [15]
2002 The Warrior Kids Programme Manual Manual 095823731X [16]
2002 The Warrior Kids Handout Manual Manual 0-9582373-2-8 [6]
2004 Kura toa: Warrior School Novel 978-1-877514-02-9 [15]
2005 Haere, Farewell, Jack, Farewel Huhana Smith 1-86969-104-0 [1]
2006 Warrior Kids Novel 978-1-86948-425-5 [1]
2008 Hinemoa Te Toa John Bennett 978-1-86943-818-0 [1]
2008 Rewa Finds His Wings Jo Thapa 978-1-86978-042-5 [15]
2011 Warrior Kids, Warrior Training For Children Manual 978-1-877514-22-7 [15]
2012 Patu Novel 978-1-877514-50-0 [15]
2012 Bullies And Warriors Novel 978-0-947506-30-8 [1]
2016 Maui – Sun Catcher Zak Waipara 978-0-947506-14-8 [1]
2019 Mrs Battleship Novel 978-0-9951067-9-6 [15]
2020 Rona Moon Theresa Reihana 978-0-947506-73-5 [1]
2020 White Moko Novel 978-0-9951067-8-9 [15]
2022 Pipi and Pou and the Raging Mountain Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035227 [1]
2022 Pipi and Pou and the River Monster Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035234 [15]
2023 Pipi and Pou and the Tentacles of the Deep Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035289 [1]
2023 Pipi and Pou and the 100 legs of terror Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035296 [15]
2023 The Book that Wouldn't Read Nicoletta Benella 978-1-99-004231-7 [15]
2024 Pipi and Pou and the waves of destruction Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035364 [17]
2024 Pipi and Pou and the Firewoman Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035371 [1]
2024 The Ever-standing tree Ani Huia Ligaliga 978-1-99-004260-7 [18]
2025 How Many Times? Nicoletta Benella 9781990042812 [19]
2025 Pipi and Pou and the Shadow Below Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035470 [20]
2025 Pipi and Pou and the Haunted Forest Isobel Te Aho-White 9781990035487 [20]

Other Publications

Year Title Illustrator ISBN Featured In Ref
2007 I Dream Morning Bruce Potter 9781869780159 Out of the Deep and other stories from New Zealand and the Pacific, Reed Publishing Ltd. [21]
2019 Ngāti Kurī Proud Munro Te Whata 9781776698356 School Journal Level 2 November 2019, New Zealand Ministry of Education. [22]
2024 Pipi and Pou and the Forgotten Stream Isobel Te Aho-White – A free interactive walking adventure featured on the PickPath App for the 2024 Aucklan Writers Festival. [23]

Awards and Nominations

Year Title Award Category Result Ref
2000 The Wooden Fish Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Book Won [15]
2002 Taming the Taniwha The White Ravens Selected [1]
2002 Taming the Taniwha The LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award Nominated [24]
2006 Haere, Farewell, Jack, farewell New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Picture Book Honour Award Won [15]
2009 Hinemoa te toa The LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards Te Kura Pounamu Nominated [25]
2009 Hinemoa te toa The LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards Te Tohu Taurapa mō te wahanga Pukapuka Pikitia Won [1]
2009 Hinemoa te toa The LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards Te Tohu Pounamu mo te wahanga Kaiwhakamaori Won [1]
2010 Taming the Taniwha New Zealand Picture Book Collection Selected [26]
2010 Haere, Farewell, Jack, farewell New Zealand Picture Book Collection Selected [27]
2017 Māui – Sun Catcher Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Book Won [15]
2021 Rona Moon Storylines Notable Book Awards Te Reo Māori Won [28]
2023 Pipi and Pou and the Raging Mountain NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award Finalist [29]
2023 Pipi and Pou and the Tentacles of the Deep Storylines Notable Book Awards Junior Fiction Won [30]
2024 The Book that Wouldn't Read NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori Finalist [31]
2024 Pipi and Pou and the Firewoman Storylines Notable Book Awards Junior Fiction Won [32]
2025 Pipi and Pou and the Shadow Below Storylines Notable Book Awards Junior Fiction Won [20]
2025 Pipi and Pou and the Haunted Forest Storylines Notable Book Awards Junior Fiction Won [20]

Other Awards, Honours, and Certificates

Year Award Result Ref
2013 New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inducted [10]
2015 Kiwibank Local Hero Medalist [15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Tim Tipene | New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa". Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Writer: Tim Tipene – Writers • Auckland Writers Festival". www.writersfestival.co.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Tim Tipene Named 2026 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medallist - Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  4. ^ "Sex offender facing long jail sentence". NZ Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d Husband, Dale (5 October 2019). "Tim Tipene: My teacher changed my life forever". E-Tangata. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Tipene, Tim 1972– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Warrior Kid Tim Tipene – White Moko". Radio NZ. 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b "The Author". Tim Tipene. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Tim Tipene inducted into NZ Martial Arts Hall of Fame". Scoop. 10 July 2013.
  11. ^ https://warriorkids.com
  12. ^ a b Tipene, Tim. "The wooden fish / written by Tim Tipene ; illustrated by Jennifer Cooper". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Tim Tipene - Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". www.storylines.org.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  14. ^ "Tim Tipene - Writer's Files • Read NZ Te Pou Muramura". www.read-nz.org. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Tipene, Tim. "Storylines profile: Tim Tipene". Storylines.
  16. ^ "The Warrior Kids Programme / by Tim Tipene". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Pipi and Pou and the Waves of Destruction". Live onetree-house. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  18. ^ "The Ever-Standing Tree". New Zealand Books. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  19. ^ "How Many Times?: Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā? by Tim Tipene". www.ketebooks.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d "Storylines Notable Book Lists 2025 – Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". www.storylines.org.nz. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Out of the deep : and other stories from New Zealand and the Pacific / edited by Tessa Duder and Lorraine Orman ; illustrated by Bruce Potter". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  22. ^ "Ngāti Kurī Proud – Kete Pūrākau". 18 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Auckland Writers Festival announces unbeatable lineup for this year's Festival – world's top writers light up New Zealand this May – News • Auckland Writers Festival".
  24. ^ "LIANZA Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award". Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  25. ^ "LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu". Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Taming the Taniwha – New Zealand Picture Book Collection". picturebooks.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Haere-Farewell, Jack, Farewell – New Zealand Picture Book Collection". picturebooks.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Storylines Notable Book Lists 2021 – Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". www.storylines.org.nz. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  29. ^ "ePlatform". www.eplatform.co. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  30. ^ "Storylines Notable Book Lists 2023 – Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". www.storylines.org.nz. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Book Awards for Children & Young Adults – te Reo Māori finalists". www.nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  32. ^ "Storylines Notable Book Lists 2024 – Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust". www.storylines.org.nz. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.

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