The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street / Ngā Kuia o te tiriti o Pikitea

The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street
Ngā Kuia o te Tiriti o Pikitea

By Renisa Viraj Maki, illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira

Touching story about multiple cultures in New Zealand bonding through food and stories across the generations

‘I hope young readers, and those who read the book with them, connect to this story and see the beauty of our multicultural society,’ says author Renisa Viraj Maki of her debut book.

‘As an Indian immigrant, I struggled to find stories that celebrate the multicultural experience. That inspired me to write about immigrants and locals connecting across cultures.’

In The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street/Ngā Kuia o te tiriti o Pikitea, Renisa portrays Māori, Ethiopian, Samoan, NZ European, Indian and Chinese grandmothers sharing traditional stories with their grandkids as they make the kids’ lunchboxes for school the next day.

The grandmothers are also preparing dishes for their monthly gathering, where they share their respective traditions and stories.

Sumptuously illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson and with a fine te reo translation by Kanapu Rangitauira, The Grandmothers of Pikitiea Street will be in bookstores ahead of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Renisa’s hope is that ‘stories like this warm people’s hearts to our shared human experiences. After all, who doesn’t love a hug from grandma or sharing delicious food?’

The authors

Renisa Viraj Maki is a Kiwi-Indian leadership consultant and artist who is a graduate in art history. She is dedicated to writing stories that reflect cultural diversity; this is her first book. Renisa lives in Auckland.

Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning illustrator and author who has published numerous children’s books, including with Oratia Books There’s a Weta on my Sweater and There’s a Moa in the Moonlight, with Dawn McMillan. She lives in Ōpotiki.

The translator

Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea) is a registered translator and teacher of te reo Māori. Among his book translations is Nanny Mihi’s Medicine/Ngā Rongoā a Nanny Mihi (Oratia Books, 2022). Kanapu lives with his family in Rotoiti, Rotorua.