General: Harri István Mäki will not continue as a writing teacher in Tampere

Author Harri István Mäki on divorced from the Finnish Writers’ Union and not his teaching work at the Tampere regional labor school continue after this spring, Yleisradio says.

HS reports on Wednesdaythat the Helmivyö publishing house pulled all four of Mäki’s books it had published from sale due to suspicions of plagiarism and the resulting lack of trust. Mäki has admitted at least some of the revealed plagiarisms.

Already at the end of 2025, Helmivyö and Enostone publishing houses had each removed one of Mäki’s books from sale due to plagiarism. Regarding these works as well, Mäki admitted plagiarism.

To Tampere the regional labor union told Yle that Mäki will finish his current fixed-term employment contract in the spring, but there is no chance of an extension in the fall.

“The city’s policy is that even if his actions [plagiointi] has not happened with us, we consider that for ethical reasons it is not appropriate for him to continue”, education planner in charge of writing and literature at the Labor College Kristiina Kestinen commented to Yle.

István Mäki has taught writing courses that have been popular.

Mäki’s self-initiated resignation from the Writers’ Association was confirmed to Yle by the chairman of the association Ville Hytönen.