essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngaati Puukeko, Ngaati Takatāpui, Clan Gunn, Horwood) is a poet who lives on whenua Ngāti Wairere. Their first book of poetry ransack (VUP) was longlisted for the Ockham Awards 2020. They are the featured writer in Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2020 with their work ‘HAUNT|HUNT’. They also dabble in visual arts; their redinblack series of paintings was hosted in the Gus Fisher Gallery as part of the queeralgorithms exhibition in 2020. Their second book ECHIDNA out in 2022 through Te Herenga Waka University Press. They are co-editor of Kupu Toi Takataapui with Michelle Rahurahu. They will write until they’re dead.