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.
-
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).
-
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.