[2] She attended Queen Charlotte College in Picton,[3] and obtained a certificate in craft and design from Nelson Polytechnic.
Emery also produced a CD collection of original songs as Nanny Mihi during Māori Language Week.
The Māori translation, Nga Rongoa a Koro (translated by Kararaina Uatuku) won the Te Kuru Pounamu Award at the 2005 LIANZA Children's Book Awards.
[1] A number of her books have been listed as Storylines Notable Books, including Matariki (2004), Koro's Medicine (2005), Nanny Mihi's Christmas (2006), Itiiti's Gift (2007), The Mad Tadpole Adventure (2008), The Grumble Rumble Mumbler (2008), Dad's Takeaways (2008), Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi (2008), and Big Fish, Little Fish (2009).
[13][14] Also in 2008, the Wellington Children's Book Association distributed free copies of her book Papa's Island, about an Italian father held prisoner on Matiu / Somes Island during World War II, to mark Anzac Day.