Emma Espiner

Emma Espiner (née Wehipeihana) is a New Zealand broadcaster and political commentator.[1][2] In 2020, she won Opinion Writer of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.[3]

Biography

Espiner grew up in Wellington. Her mother, Colleen Smith, was a feminist activist and Espiner was involved in feminist protests from a young age.[2] Her father was Martin Wehipeihana.[4] Of Māori descent, Espiner has whakapapa (heritage) to the Ngāti Tukorehe and Ngāti Porou iwi.[1] She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Auckland in 2020.[5]

She is a columnist for Newsroom and hosts a podcast Getting Better for Radio New Zealand about Māori health equity.[1][6] In 2023, she published a memoir titled There's a cure for this".[7]

Her 2023 memoir, There’s a Cure for This, was shortlisted for the General Nonfiction Award at the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.[8]

Personal life

Espiner married journalist Guyon Espiner in 2012.[4][9] The couple separated in 2023.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Writer: Emma Espiner - Writers • Auckland Writers Festival". www.writersfestival.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Feminism in the family: Colleen Smith and Emma Espiner on breeding activism". The Spinoff. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ "TVNZ wins big at annual Voyager Media Awards". TVNZ. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Husband, Dale (28 July 2018). "Guyon Espiner: I'd love a New Zealand where we all embrace te reo". E-Tangata. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Graduation search results". University of Auckland. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Emma Espiner: Watching two New Zealands". Newsroom. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ "There's a Cure for This: A Memoir by Emma Espiner". www.penguin.co.nz. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Ockham 2024 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  9. ^ "TV stars, politicians mix at Espiner wedding". New Zealand Herald. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  10. ^ Wadey, Rebecca (28 March 2023). "Guyon Espiner on separation, stress - and not drinking". Stuff. Retrieved 29 March 2023.