Distinguished educator and translator Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata joins with artist Ani Huia Ligaliga to present 30 Samoan proverbs for children in the original language, alongside translations and explanations in English.
Each proverb is presented in Gagana Sāmoa and English above an illustration, with bilingual explanations below.
Traversing themes from family, leadership and education to the environment and spirituality, Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa ma Uiga mo Tamaiti adds a valuable Pasifika resource for children and families everywhere.
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Series: Moana Oceania Title: Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa ma Uiga mo Tamaiti Samoan Proverbs for Children Author: Tauanu'u Perenise Tapu Sitagata Illustrator: Ani Huia Ligaliga ISBN: 978-1-99-004270-6 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Publishing: 6 May 2025, in association with Auckland Libraries – Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau -
Title: I’m a Submarine Author: Nigel McHardy ISBN: 978-1-99-004280-5 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 3 April 2025A seagull is a seagull, and a whale is a whale. Seagull knows a thing or two about sea creatures and submarines. But after meeting Whale, Seagull learns that things are not always what they seem! Whale works hard to convince Seagull that although he/she looks like a whale, what Seagull is actually seeing is a submarine! In this highly original debut book, designer and nature enthusiast Nigel McHardy takes young readers on a fun journey that might just lead them to question what they see. That is, if they stop laughing! -
Title: Easter Bunny needs a NEW BUM! Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN: 978-1-99-004278-2 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 13 March 2025 Easter Bunny has arrived to hide the Easter eggs in our hero’s garden … but something doesn’t look right … I’m looking … I’m looking … What do I see? Oh … there’s nothing at all where his tail should be! Red pants boy has another bumergency on his hands in this hilarious addition to the New Bum series. And of course, he has an eggselent idea to help Easter Bunny. ‘Hoppity hoppity, cannot stoppity. Tickety boo! Tottle-oo.’ Together they race around the garden to hide the eggs before the family wakes up – but will they sort out Easter Bunny’s bum issues? Dawn McMillan’s playful rhymes and Ross Kinnaird’s vibrant drawings bring an exciting Easter adventure to New Bum fans around the world, continuing the success of this globally bestselling series. -
Series: The NZ Series Title: The Treaty of Waitangi Author: Ross Calman ISBN: 978-1-99-004277-5 RRP: $29.99 Specs: 240 x 160 mm portrait, PB, 100 pp, colour Published: 21 January 2025 For Teacher Resource: click here ‘The story of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi is one of the greatest in New Zealand history. It marks the moment British and Māori history intersected and a new nation was formed.’ In The Treaty of Waitangi, Ross Calman outlines the impact of the Treaty from early contact between Māori and European settlers and signing around the country through to its revitalisation in the twentieth century, the formation of the Waitangi Tribunal and the present-day debates about its place at the centre of political and cultural life. Extensive illustrations, photos and fact boxes examine New Zealand’s founding document from a range of viewpoints, and highlight the importance of Te Tiriti as a key to understanding the nation’s past, present and future. This eighth book further extends Oratia’s NZ Series, a non-fiction resource for general readers and schools, introducing complex subjects in concise terms. -
Title: Poutini The Ngāi Tahu History of the West Coast Author: Paul Madgwick ISBN: 978-1-99-004244-7 RRP: $75.00 Specs: HB, 250 x 185 mm portrait, 528 pp, colour Published: 5 November 2024Māori have lived on Te Tai Poutini for at least as long as anywhere else on these islands called New Zealand, bound by ancient stories and a unique affinity to pounamu. So why is the Māori story so impoverished in a region so rich in storytelling? — Paul Madgwick, from the Introduction
Poutini aims to correct this by recording the Ngāi Tahu history of the West Coast. Esteemed kaumātua and ‘Coaster’ Paul Madgwick guides the reader through early Poutini mythology, the discovery of pounamu, the story of settlement, battles between iwi, life in the pā and contact with Europeans.
The book then explores the land sales and Māori reserves, through to the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. It is rounded off by a look at modern challenges and opportunities, and topics such as the legacy of the World Wars.
Illustrated with beautiful images and extensive appendices, this is a landmark publication bringing together a lifetime of expertise and research, with special relevance to Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island).
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Title: I Need a New BUM! Activity Book Authors: Betsy Ochester and Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN: 978-1-99-004246-1 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 48 pp, b&w Published: 5 November 2024The newest addition to the global phenomenon of the New Bum! series, here’s a book that will keep the kids busy and laughing for hours on end. Responding to popular demand from families around the world, this activity book offers amazing mazes, word games, bum puzzles, drawing challenges, code crackers, jokes and more. Author and illustrator dream team Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird partnered with US puzzle expert Betsy Ochester to bring this fun-packed book to bum fans around the world. With the zany drawings and silly humour of the New Bum! series, this activity book will keep the kids — and the whole family — entertained. -
Title: What’s in a Name? He aha tō te Ingoa? Author: Renisa Viraj Maki Illustrator: Isobel Te Aho-White Māori translation by Hona Black ISBN: 978-1-99-004263-8 RRP: $22.99 Specs: PB, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pp, colour Published: 5 November 2024 For Teacher Resource: click here ‘I’m worried about saying the names correctly,’ Priyanka says when she gets tasked with reading out student names at the end-of-year school assembly. Determined to say them correctly, she goes on a chase to find her classmates and learn how to pronounce their names. She meets Arihia, Xinze, Somachandra, Sean and Tausa’afia, learns about their names and practises hard for the big day. Renisa Maki tells a gentle and heart-warming story that crosses cultures and highlights the mana our names carry. Superbly illustrated by Isobel Te AhoWhite and translated into te reo Māori by Hona Black, What's in a Name? is a book to read and reread at home or school. -
Title: There’s a Crab in my Castle He Pāpaka kei taku Pā Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Nikki Slade Robinson Māori translation by: Stephanie Huriana Fong ISBN: 978-1-99-004262-1 RRP: $25.99 Specs: 270 x 210 mm portrait, HB, 32 pp, colour Published: 15 October 2024 For Teacher Resource: click here There’s a cool crab in my castle! He’d like to be the king. He sits there on his throne, watching everything. The newest addition to Dawn McMillan’s Nature Stories series takes readers to the rocky shore, where crab meets sandhopper, snapper, kina, manta ray and more. Enticing rhymes and Nikki Slade Robinson’s evocative illustrations bring the beach to life. With a fun ensemble of seaside creatures and text in Māori and English, this is an educating and entertaining read for young readers and their whānau, out in time for summer. -
Series: Moana Oceania Title: Fiji – Viti Author: Tarisi Vunidilo ISBN: 978-1-99-004240-9 RRP: $29.99 Specs: 230 x 170 mm portrait, PB, 48 pp, colour Publishing: 10 October 2024 Fiji – Viti is the newest addition to the striking Moana Oceania series, which reflects back to Pasifika children in Aotearoa the places they are connected to. While suitable for young readers, this is a valuable book for anyone with an interest in our Pacific vuvale (family), including our many visitors to Fiji. Fijian–New Zealand educator Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the people, culture and identity of her homeland. With text in Fijian and English, the book offers insights into society, geography, legends, arts, history, language and more. Readers will learn about daily life in the islands, the values of its people, and how families live and celebrate. A section is dedicated to Fijians in New Zealand and how they stay connected to and celebrate their culture in Aotearoa. The striking design with info boxes, colourful photos, illustrations and maps make this book fun to read and easy to access. -
Title: Kiwi A Curious Case of National Identity Author: Richard Wolfe ISBN: 978-1-99-004264-5 RRP: $45.00 Specs: 250 x 185 mm, PB, 208 pp, colour Publishing: 10 October 2024 Kiwi is a fascinating deep dive into New Zealand’s curious national identity. Cultural author and avid Kiwiana collector Richard Wolfe explores the evolution of ‘kiwi’ from the Māori name of a secretive bird to its many uses today — renaming a fruit native to China, signifying a New Zealander, and a powerful term in national and international branding. With extensive colour illustrations, photographs and ephemera, and the author’s keen eye for the curious, Kiwi presents some outlandish stories, tales of cultural appropriation and recognition of ‘Kiwi’ around the world. A popular study on New Zealand identity, this is an entertaining and important work for fans of all things kiwi and Kiwis themselves. -
The Ever-Standing Tree Te Rākau Tū Tonu Author: Tim Tipene Illustrator: Ani Huia Ligaliga Translated by Kanapu Rangitauira ISBN: 978-1-99-004260-7 RRP: $22.99 Specs: 270 x 210 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Publishing: 2 September 2024 For Teacher Resource: click hereOver the protests of his kids, Dad cuts down a tree to get ‘a better view’ — only for a chorus of birds and insects to put it back together overnight. The battle of wills between the blade and nature goes on until Dad finally sees the light and comes to love the tree. Told in Māori and English, this lovingly illustrated story resets the beloved myth of Rātā and the Tree in a modern setting, encouraging readers to consider traditions, tikanga and respect for nature. The Ever-standing Tree/Te Rākau Tū Tonu follows on from Tim Tipene’s successful picture books Māui – Sun Catcher/Te Kaihao i te Rā and Rona Moon/Ko Rona Māhina, both Storylines Notable Book Award winners. -
Title: Ngā Hapa Reo: Common Māori Language Errors Authors: Hona Black & Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell ISBN: 978-1-99-004259-1 RRP: $39.99 Specs: PB, 210 x 148 mm portrait, 196 pp, b&w Publishing: 2 September 2024 Following on from the bestselling Te Reo Kapekape (2023) and He Iti te Kupu (2021), Hona Black's new book — co-authored with Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell — is an essential reference for any Māori learner or speaker. Surging interest in te reo Māori in recent years has led to a range of errors becoming common in classrooms and everyday use, many caused by language interference (following the patterns of English rather than te reo). This book sets out to correct that trend with easy-to-follow, fun examples of language errors. In six chapters focusing on different types of mistakes, the book directs readers to correct usages, numerous examples, and detailed explanations in both te reo and English. Ngā Hapa Reo is a stimulating read for anyone wanting to improve their command of te reo Māori, whether language learner or fluent speaker. -
Title: Duffy and the Bullies Author: Jeff Szusterman Illustrator: Ant Sang ISBN: 978-1-99-004256-0 RRP: $25.99 Specs: 229 x 160 mm portrait, PB, 88 pp, colour Published: 6 August 2024 From the pen of one of New Zealand's finest comic artists, in tandem with the creative brains behind the Duffy Books in Homes theatre programme, comes this graphic novel that speaks to kids from upper primary school through to junior high school. Adapted from a play that confronts bullying, Jeff Szusterman’s story — superbly illustrated by Ant Sang — shows the popular Duffy (a Māori kid who captains the rugby team) coming to the aid of 11-year-old Marama, victim of physical and psychological bullying by the jealous Ashlee. With Kiwi-as characters, lots of rugby and familiar school and home settings, Duffy and the Bullies is a gripping read that will make a difference to kids. -
Title: Ratana the Prophet Author: Keith Newman ISBN: 978-1-99-004258-4 RRP: $45.00 Specs: 230 x 153 mm portrait, PB, 284 pp, colour and b&w Published: 7 May 2024‘A life-changing vision in 1918 inspired an ordinary man to accept an extraordinary challenge. In championing a deep cultural shift among the decimated Māori people of New Zealand, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana helped rechart the course of a nation.’ T.W. Ratana is a tōtara of modern history — the visionary founder of New Zealand’s largest homegrown religion, the Ratana Church and movement. Ratana the Prophet tells his life story, from his early days as a hard-working farmer, heavy drinker and gambler to the ‘divine’ encounters where he picked up the mantle of earlier Māori prophets, and championed the Treaty of Waitangi as the nation’s founding document. This new edition builds on Keith Newman’s decades of research into T.W. Ratana, updated to take in the events of the 2010s and early 2020s, and includes previously undisclosed and untranslated material. -
Title: Nanny Mihi’s Harvest Te Hauhake a Nanny Mihi Author: Melanie Drewery Illustrator: Suzanne Simpson Translated by Kanapu Rangitauira ISBN: 978-1-99-004257-7 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 4 June 2024 For Teacher Resource: click hereHaere mai,’ called Nanny Mihi, when we arrived to stay. ‘You are just in time to help me plant the garden.’ The fourth book in the Nanny Mihi series extends the nature connection from 2022’s Nanny Mihi’s Medicine/Ngā Rongoā a Nanny Mihi, with a fully bilingual text about gardening (publishing ahead of Matariki 2024). When her mokopuna arrive for the spring school holidays, Nanny enlists their help to plant her garden. As they return each season, the kids see their labours bear fruit. By winter there is nothing in the garden, but the products of the harvest have gone into a soup that ‘tastes like spring and summer and autumn and winter’! The fast-growing Nanny Mihi series is becoming a perennial for Kiwi kids. -
Series: Moana Oceania Title: Island Toes/Tamatama'i Vae o Motu Author: Christin Lozano Illustrator: Mariko Merritt Translator: Suzie-Jo Rasmussen ISBN: 978-1-99-004245-4 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 4 July 2024Flipper toes, jandal toes Swimming underwater toes... This colourfully illustrated book takes young readers on a journey around the South Pacific — no shoes needed!A fun celebration of the different toes we have and the adventures they get up to, from clean toes to highchair toes, tan toes to pale toes, snorkel toes to buried-in-the-sand toes.Translated for Samoan readers by Auckland teacher Suzie-Jo Rasmussen, the New Zealand edition of this hit Hawaiian book will be a great read and read-to for everyone who loves toes and the islands! -
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Title: Those Who Have the Courage The History of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps Author: Matthew Wright ISBN: 978-1-99-004255-3 RRP: $95.00 Specs: Jacketed hardback, 280 x 215 mm portrait, 648 pp, colour and b&w Published: 3 April 2024 EBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! PRINT EDITION HAS SOLD OUT.‘Those Who Have the Courage will be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the military and social history of New Zealand. It is a comprehensive history of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, the Mounted Rifles and predecessor units ...’ — Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, from the Foreword The product of painstaking, multi-year research by esteemed historian and author Matthew Wright, this richly illustrated hardback is a must-have for the history reader. Part 1 covers the colonial cavalry that fought in the NZ Wars and Anglo-Boer War, then Part 2 moves to the Mounted Rifles distinguishing themselves in the First World War, at the end of which the tank came into play. Part 3 describes the Armoured Corps’ varied roles in the Second World War; Part 4 details what Wright calls an ‘armoured evolution’, through actions from the Korean War to Vietnam and Part 5 records action in East Timor and Afghanistan, and modern challenges, rounding out this readable story. The appendices include rolls of honour, lists of vehicles and organisational charts.E-book available from
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Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna Listen to your ancestors Author: Darryn Joseph Illustrator: Munro Te Whata ISBN: 978-0-947506-67-4 RRP: $22.99 Specs: 270 x 210 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 5 March 2024 WINNER: NZSA New Zealand Literary Heritage Awards 2020, Te Reo Māori sectionKia toa, e hine mā, e tama mā, kia kaua hoki koutou e whakamā. Me waiata koutou ki ngā manu o tō koutou tūpuna, o Tāne-mahuta. Be bold now, girls and boys, it’s no time to be shy. Sing to the birds of your ancestor, The Great Forest. This poignant story is set in a school and then rest home environment, following the life lessons passed from a teacher to her pupils, and aligning these with the example set by Māori gods and ancestors. As the story unfolds the teacher ages and retires, and we see the beautiful and caring relationship between ‘Nan’ and her granddaughter. Nan passes away; we are reminded of the circular nature of life as her granddaughter begins to teach her own pupils lessons from the ancestors. -
Title: My Dad’s Runaway BUM! Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN: 978-1-99-004254-6 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 5 March 2024Dad’s bum has blown off! With a hiss and a roar, it’s gone out our front door ... After a meal of cabbage and peas, Dad’s bum not only lets off a smell, but blows off entirely and sets off on its own around the town! ‘Let’s chase it, Dad, before it’s too late,’ says the red-panted hero in this latest New Bum escapade. Forget about a car chase, this is a bum chase — past joggers in tights and bikers with lights, until the Police have to intervene. Hilarious rhymes and drawings capture the spirit of this brilliant addition to the international hit series, cracking up readers from Aberdeen to Invercargill. -
Title: Rere Atu Taku Poi! Let My Poi Fly! Author: Tangaroa Paul Illustrator: Rebecca Gibbs ISBN: 978-1-99-004248-5 RRP: $22.99 Specs: PB, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pp, colour Publishing: 8 February 2024 For Teacher Resource: click hereWritten in te reo Māori and translated by the author, Rere Atu Taku Poi! is a beautifully illustrated story about gender fluidity in a school setting. Rangi loves doing haka but performing poi is his favourite — even though his classmates say it’s just for girls. When the lead poi performer falls sick before a school performance, Rangi has to take her place. How will the other students and audience react – ‘Surely a boy can’t lead the poi?’As Rangi steps on stage, the familiar movements of poi take him from scared and unsure to standing as his authentic self.Audiobook available from
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Title: A Spirit Companion: Celebrating the first 50 years of the Spirit of Adventure Trust Author: Roger McDonald ISBN: 978-1-99-004251-5 RRP: $60.00 Specs: HB, 220 x 170mm portrait, 344pp, 2 colour Published: 14 November 2023‘All a trainee needed to feel — could not help feeling — was that their feet were on the decks of something pretty big, and change was happening all around them just by the motion that happened when the wind blew.’ For 50 years, people from all walks of life have stepped aboard first the Spirit of Adventure, and today the Spirit of New Zealand Te Waka Herenga Tangata ō Aotearoa, for a voyage of personal discovery. They’ve had fun, made friends, and been given a taste of expanded possibility. Distinguished author Roger McDonald captures stories from over 70 people who have made ‘the Spirit’ part of their lives — from those who have worked and sailed for the Spirit of Adventure Trust to the young people whom it has introduced to sailing and self-recognition. This attractive cloth-bound hardback is illustrated with drawings by Sue Fisher, which combines with writing of the highest standard to make this an ideal memento for anyone who has ‘sailed the Spirit’ or loves the sea. -
Series: The NZ Series Title: New Zealand Migration Author: Philippa Werry ISBN: 978-1-99-004239-3 RRP: $29.99 Specs: 240 x 160 mm portrait, PB, 100 pp, colour Published: 14 November 2023 For Teacher Resource: click here ‘In a country inhabited for a mere thousand years, everyone is an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant.’ – Michael King With six books now published, The NZ Series is a valuable non-fiction resource for general readers and schools, introducing complex subjects in simple, concise terms. In this seventh volume, Philippa Werry recounts the stories and experience of migration to Aotearoa — from the first Polynesian arrivals to the Dawn Raids, from the New Zealand Company to ten-pound Poms, from Dutch and Dalmatian refugees to today’s Asian Kiwi communities. Extensive illustrations and shared personal experiences bring to life an immigrant nation from a range of perspectives. New Zealand Migration will make an excellent introduction for understanding our migrant nation. -
Title: Vikings of the Sunrise Author: Te Rangi Hīroa (Sir Peter Buck) Foreword by Paora Tapsell ISBN: 978-1-99-004249-2 RRP: $49.99 Specs: PB with flaps, 210 x 140 mm portrait, 392 pp, b/w with 2 photo sections of 16 pp Published: 18 October 2023 Vikings of the Sunrise ranks as a masterpiece of Pacific studies. From the pen of one of the greatest Māori thinkers and writers of his generation, the settlement of the Pacific Ocean comes to life. The book ranges across the Pacific Ocean and the people who populated it, considering their physical and spiritual origins, and the ships they built to conquer this vast territory. It weighs evidence for different routes, retells myths of migration including the Māui series, recounts the author’s visits to islands and atolls across the South Pacific, and overall establishes the ‘vikings’ of the Pacific among the greatestever ocean voyagers. First published in 1938, Vikings of the Sunrise is here reproduced in an enhanced facsimile edition, including photos and maps compiled by the author on his voyages, and a new foreword by anthropologist Paora (Paul) Tapsell. Oratia Books is pleased to bring Vikings of the Sunrise back into print for modern readers as part of our NZ Classics series. -
Title: Lucky Me Author: Lawrence Schimel Illustrator: Juan Camilo Mayorga ISBN: 978-1-99-004250-8 RRP: $25.99 Specs: HB, 229 x 229 mm square, 32 pp, colour Published: 12 October 2023 Bruno's friend Sanjay is lucky: he has his own room and a pet iguana. His brother Mateo is lucky too: he has a dog who helps him get around and he can read in the dark, even after their parents tell them to turn off the light. Bruno doesn’t have his own room and he doesn't have a pet … but maybe he is lucky for other reasons? In this heart-warming story, Bruno discovers that everyone has different strengths, abilities, and reasons to feel grateful. Featuring a visually impaired character with a unique set of skills, the book invites young readers to embrace differences and celebrate what makes us unique. This thoughtful book forms part of Oratia’s Five Oceans collection of international authors translated into English for readers Down Under. -
Title: My Bum is SO CHRISTMASSY! Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN:978-1-99-004227-0 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 2 October 2023My bum will look jolly, wearing some holly, but … what if I have to sit? It’s Christmas time and there’s excitement galore at the house of the boy with red pants! All the family is there to celebrate, but … something isn’t right. It’s his bum of course! It’s plain, when and he wants to zing it and bling it! He imagines all the ways he could decorate it — some Christmas stockings? Some reindeer and snowflakes that glow in the night? Best of all would be a Christmas tree — that would make for a truly stunning bum! Then he thinks again. Is having the most decorated bum the most important thing at Christmas time? Santa may just have the answer. Join the popular character from I Need a New Bum! as he finds the real meaning of Christmas. -
Title: My Bum is SO SPOOKY! Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN:978-1-99-004243-0 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 2 October 2023Wait for the squeals, the shouts and the criesWhen everyone sees my … SPOOK-TACULAR BUM!Halloween is a scary time of year but when bestselling team Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird get in on the act, the fun takes over from the fright.Join the hero of the international hit New Bum! series as his Halloween costume plans take an hilarious turn! With a special pumpkin uniform around his middle, Red Pants Boy has what it takes to make Trick or Treat a crazy experience for all. And conspiring with his vampire-costumed cousins, he has a surprise in store for the family and neighbours at the end of the night — quite a ghostly surprise! -
Title: Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pānuihia Author: Tim Tipene Illustrator: Nicoletta Benella Translator: Kanapu Rangitauira ISBN: 978-1-99-004247-8 RRP: $22.99 Specs: PB, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pp, colour Published: 1 September 2023 For Teacher Resource: click hereTe Pukapuka ka Kore e Pānuihia takes the viewpoint of children who have reading struggles, with design guided by educators for appeal to reluctant or even dyslexic readers This inspirational story is available in Māori (in this paperback edition) as well as in English (hardback).He uaua te pānui pukapuka mā ētahi tāngata — he uaua mā te tamai roto i tēnei pukapuka. Engari, arā ētahi pukapuka ka tohua kia pānuihia e koe, mea rawa ake ka puare mai he ao whakamīharo i roto i ngā whārangi.Ko Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pānuihia tētahi o aua pukapuka. Pūtake mai ai i ōna wheako, ka whakaahuatia e te kaituhi whiwhi tohu, e Tim Tipene ētahi o ngā uauatanga i ngā wā he uaua te pānui, he whakamōhio atu ki ngā tamariki e taea ana aua uauatanga te eke panuku. The boy who narrates this story doesn’t like reading, until one day in the school library he picks up Te Pukapuka ka kore e Pānuihia. Suddenly the book takes on a life of its own – and before he knows it, he’s finished the book. ‘What should I read next?’ -
Title: The Book that Wouldn’t Read Author: Tim Tipene Illustrator: Nicoletta Benella ISBN: 978-1-99-004231-7 RRP: $25.99 Specs: HB, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pp, colour Published: 1 September 2023 For Teacher Resource: click hereThe boy at the centre of Tim Tipene’s striking new story doesn’t like reading, until one day in the school library he picks up The Book that Wouldn’t Read. Suddenly the book takes on a life of its own — with sentences moving up and down, words changing colour and disappearing, and strange fonts and characters that get the reader jumping around, even burping. His appeals to the teacher and friends get hushed because ‘it’s reading time,’ and before he knows it, he’s finished the book. ‘What should I read next?’
The Book that Wouldn't Read takes the viewpoint of children who have reading struggles, with design guided by educators for appeal to reluctant or even dyslexic readersThis inspirational story is available in English (in this hardback edition) as well as in Māori (paperback).
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Title: Te Reo Kapekape: Māori Wit and Humour Author: Hona Black ISBN: 978-1-99-004237-9 RRP: $45.00 Specs: PB, 210 x 148 mm portrait, 308 pp, b&w Published: 1 September 2023Following on from the successful He Iti te Kupu: Māori Metaphors and Similes, Hona Black's new book explores the rich vein of humour in Māori life.
Want to know how to call a silly person a ‘roro hipi / sheep’s brain’, or tell someone to get stuffed in te reo Māori? The answers are all in Te Reo Kapekape (literally, ‘the language of poking fun’), with more than 130 humorous and unique phrases in te reo and English that can be used to describe people, events and actions.
The sayings are divided into four chapters — above the hip, below the hip, other phrases, and idioms. Using a cast of characters and dramatised dialogue, Hona explains each phrase and gives examples and suggestions for use — whether to tease, crack a joke or just add some flair to your daily use.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to spice up their te reo or English with some fun and cheeky sayings, and will appeal to both language learners and fluent speakers of Māori.
E-book available from
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Title: Te Kooti’s Last Foray Author: Ron Crosby ISBN: 978-1-99-004234-8 RRP: $49.99 Specs: 240 x 160 mm portrait, 288 pp (16 pp colour) Published: 8 August 2023 For Teacher Resource: click hereOn 7 March 1870 the prophet and rebel Te Kooti swept out of Te Urewera to Ōpape, east of Ōpōtiki, in what would be his last major action of the New Zealand Wars. His forces abducted 218 Whakatōhea (mostly women, children, and old men) and marched them into the bush to build a pā called Waipuna. Before long the government sent troops in pursuit — almost exclusively Māori.
In this captivating book, historian Ron Crosby draws on his decades of experience in Te Urewera and recently discovered diaries to recount this overlooked yet crucial episode in the New Zealand Wars — for the first time locating precisely where the events occurred, and telling what really happened. A foreword by Justice Joe Williams sets the scene …
Illustrated with detailed maps, sketches and photos, Te Kooti’s Last Foray sets straight the historical record of Ngāti Porou and Whanganui’s chase, casts new light on the character and abilities of Te Kooti, and brings to life an incredible story of hardship, endurance and conflicting loyalties in colonial New Zealand.
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Title: You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are! Me i Mōhio Koe ki tō Waimarietanga! My Beautiful Family Author: Belinda O’Keefe Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird Translator: Te Ama-Rere-Tai Rangihuna ISBN: 978-1-99-004236-2 RRP: $21.00 Specs: PB, 230 x 215 mm, 32 pp, colour Published: 5 July 2023When Izzy moans about unloading the dishwasher, Great-uncle Arthur says, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are!”
He’s always done something worse — like hand-washing stacks of dishes, or dodging arrows in a battle.
As the stories get wilder — taking three days to finish a meal of tough old food, for example — his great-niece starts to wonder if Arthur may be exaggerating a little …
Emerging author Belinda O’Keefe joins forces with well-known illustrator Ross Kinnaird in this fun book that helps young readers connect with the experience of their grandparents’ generation.
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Title: Tōku Whānau Rerehua My Beautiful Family Author: Rauhina Cooper Illustrator: Isobel Joy Te Aho-White ISBN: 978-1-99-004238-6 RRP: $22.99 Specs: PB, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pp, colour Published: 2 June 2023 For Teacher Resource: click here‘How was school today, Huia’ her mum asked. ‘It was okay … but our news topic is our family.’
Huia feels too shy to talk about her family to her classmates because she has two mums. Will her friends laugh at her and tease her?
Over the next days, she learns that some whānau have a step-parent, some have one parent, and some children are adopted. There are all sorts of families! So when her turn comes to show her family photo, she doesn’t have to be shy.
Written in te reo Māori and translated into English (te reo appears first on the pages), Rauhina Cooper’s story is beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Izzy White.
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Out of stock
Title: Ngā Atua: Māori Gods Author/Illustrator: Robyn Kahukiwa Translator: Kiwa Hammond ISBN:978-1-99-004242-3 RRP: $22.99 Specs: 270 x 210 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 17 May 2023 TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK, REPRINT DUE LATE MAY 2025A book to treasure for young and old, Robyn Kahukiwa’s Ngā Atua – Māori Gods takes the reader on a stunning visual journey while imparting simple and effective explanations of the major Māori gods.
Robyn introduces the pantheon of Māori deities and explains the arena of life for which each one is responsible. For example:
Tumatauenga is the greatest warrior. His powers are extreme strength and courage. He fights for truth and justice.
This new paperback version is fully bilingual, incorporating a superb translation by Kiwa Hammond, building on the popular hardback edition in English (published by Oratia Books in 2017). The vibrant paintings bring the gods to life and help this beautiful book to affirm their continued relevance to today’s world.
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Series: Moana Oceania Title: Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airani Author: Jean Tekura Mason ISBN: 978-1-99-004221-8 RRP: $29.99 Specs: 230 x 170 mm portrait, PB, 48 pp, colour Published: 15 February 2023 Aimed at readers 8+ but valuable for anyone with an interest in our Pacific kopu tangata (family), this is one of two inaugural books in the Moana Oceania series created by Oratia Books’ Editorial Director, Carolyn Lagahetau. Cook Islands children in New Zealand can see themselves reflected in this book, and all readers can learn about life and nature in this part of the Pacific. Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airini sets out the seven interconnected pillars that guide Cook Islands life, such as kauraro (respect and obedience to elders) and ‘aka’aka (humility and dignity). There are also sections on education, language, history, environment, art, sport and celebrations — and an exploration of how Cook Islanders in Aotearoa maintain and adapt their culture. Written in Cook Islands Māori and English by noted author Jean TeKura Mason, the book is illustrated with colour photographs throughout, and numerous pull-out boxes of information make the text easy to access. -
Title: My Bum’s on THE RUN! Author: Dawn McMillan Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird ISBN:978-1-99-004241-6 RRP: $21.00 Specs: 230 x 215 mm portrait, PB, 32 pp, colour Published: 2 March 2023Down the footpath, along past the trees I’m out in front, moving with ease. (With my new secret weapon — cabbage and peas!) Red Pants Boy (RPB) really, really wants to win a running race. But try as he might, his bum is slowing him down. What can he do? Find something to move his bum along, of course! Maybe a kite, or a rocket blast, or a big engine? Nah, he figures he needs some bum-strengthening exercises — some squats, kicks, steps and lunges. And while he’s working out, a whole lot of other folk join him. After some training he’s off — on a cross-country race near home. Think he’s set up to win? There’s a twist to this tale, involving his wee dog friend, in one of the funniest and surely the fastest of the New Bum series! -
Title: Auckland: The Twentieth-Century Story Author: Paul Moon ISBN:978-1-99-004235-5 RRP: $45.00 Specs: 240 x 160 mm portrait, PB, 360 pp, b&w Published: 5 April 2023 Auckland in 1999 would have been unrecognisable to the city’s residents at the beginning of the twentieth century — the result of dramatic changes in populations, cultures, beliefs, aspirations and senses of itself. Auckland: The Twentieth-Century Story journeys through the mosaic of cultures and lifestyles, anxieties and hopes, disasters and triumphs, virtues and vices that led to this transformation. Drawing on diaries, oral history, newspapers and other media, Paul Moon explores themes including housing, gardening, the harbours, tangata whenua struggles, shopping culture, the immigrant experience and the pervading sense that Auckland was simultaneously at the edge of the world yet at its centre. Readers across New Zealand will experience many ‘Where were you when …?’ moments as they explore the changing landscapes of our largest city. Moon’s crisp writing gives readers everywhere a sense of a city that has felt triumph and failure but continues to develop so its citizens can proudly call it home.