Tanya Batt is a self confessed story-o-phile and frock-o-holic. Hailing from Waiheke Island, Aotearoa, New Zealand she is a green fingered witch, a word warbler and story stitcher who channelled her childhood propensity for talking and her love of dressing up into a real ‘imaginary job’. Stories have put food on her table and a roof over her head for more than a quarter of a century enabling her to share her work in over 20 countries. She is the creative director of the ‘Once Upon An Island Charitable Trust’ that uses storytelling for community building, environmental and cultural education.

“She is a spellbinder. In all my years of telling and listening to stories I have never heard anyone who can match Tanya Batt. Only a few story tellers can send shivers of joy up a child’s spine.  Tanya Batt is the best of those who can.”