Tusiata Avia is a poet, performer and children’s writer. Of Samoan-Palagi heritage, she lives in Christchurch. Her first collection of poetry, Wild Dogs Under My Skirt was published in 2004. Her solo show of the same name premiered in 2002 and has toured nationally and internationally. Her second book, Bloodclot, was published in 2009. She held the CNZ-Fulbright Pacific Writer in Residence, University of Hawaii, 2005. She was the 2010 Ursula Bethel Writer in Residence, University of Canterbury.

See also: Tusiata Avia's work and interviews from her New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre profile.

See also: The New Zealand Listener's review of Tusiata Avia from February 2009.