Books: Te Ao Māori Themes

Picture books I’ve found that aid in developing the cultural competencies highlighted in Tātaiako (Ako, Manaakitanga, Tangata Whenuatanga, Wānanga, Whanaungatanga). Books with Matariki themes are here, and books aimed more at developing te reo Maori fluency are here

Parihaka

Source: Massey University Library

Author Rountree, Kathryn
Illustrator Gossage, Peter
Date1986
ISBN 058287727X
Publisher Longman Paul
Publication Country: Auckland, N.Z.
Blurb: Seeing the effects of Pakeha ways on the Maori people, and alarmed at how quickly Maori land was falling into Pakeha hands, Te Whiti and Tohu decided to protect their culture and land. This is the story of the passive resistance movement they led at Parihaka – a story which made headlines as far away as Britain, and echoes in the news of today

An in-depth retelling of events that would be a great launch for further investigation.

Tui’s Tales: Parihaka

Source: Massey University

Author: Jenkins, Justine L. (Justine Lee),
illustrations Whimp, Pauline
ISBN 9780473147884
Summary: Looks at the history of the New Zealand wars and Parihaka Pa, which resisted the colonial armies using a strategy of peace.
Publisher: Alma Collection
Publication country: Auckland, N.Z.

A short picture book that packs in a LOT of information. Starts talking about Auckland being the capital city, mentions Hone Heke chopping down a flagpole, farmers settling in the north island, and the gold rush down south. Although mentions Hone Kehe and Te Rauparaha joining forces to fight against Pakeha, and war across the country, before talking about the Kingitanga movement. It counters the discussion of war with Parikhaka refusing to fight (and commending their bravery).

Remember that November

#Parihaka

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN-13 9781775500100
Publisher Huia Publishers
Imprint Huia Publishers
Published 19 Oct 2012
Publication Country New Zealand
Format Paperback
Author(s) By Beck, Jennifer
Illustrated by Fisher, Lindy

A school speech about the origin of Guy Fawkes “celebration” is followed by a speech about Parihaka. As so few people in New Zealand seem to know why we light fireworks on the 5th of November, the quick overview given as the launch into this story is brilliant. Clear, and easy to understand. Then we move on to discuss Parihaka, which counters the narrative of “Māori in 1800s were all violent, that’s why the crown went in with guns”, by showing that the village of Parihaka could be seen as the Switzerland of Aotearoa, generally respected for their non involvement of others disputes. It provides a simple overview of events, and while it covers all the key points of both the Guy Fawkes plot and Parihaka invasion, it is a good starter for further discussion and investigation.

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Te Rauparaha: Legend of Aotearoa

# NgātiToa #Maniapoto #Rauparaha

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN-13 9780143502937
Publisher Penguin
Imprint Puffin
Published 27 Oct 2008
Publication Country New Zealand
Format Paperback
Author(s) By Cavanagh, Maureen
Illustrated by Potter, Bruce

The story of how Ngāti Toa were forced to leave Kawhia by the combined invasion of Maniapoto and Waikato. While it does present chief Te Rauparaha as a great leader taking his people safely to new land, it also shows Ngāti Toa not sharing the bounties they were blessed with, causing resentment from neighbouring tribes. Through fighting, hiding, traveling ever south, this book weaves an engrossing story that is a starter for conversations on environmental, social/emotional, etymology or conservation topics, as well as the obvious history. More relevant for North Island than South of course. Rangi sends a butterfly “Rauparaha’s Copper (Lycaenea Rauparaha)” to warn the traveling tribe of enemies. When Ngāti Toa settled on the Kapitai Coast, so did the butterfly’s.

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Ngāi Tahu Battles

#Rauparaha #KaiTahu

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN 9780473138301
Published 2008
Publisher [Christchurch, N.Z. : M. Riwai-Couch, 2008]
Author Riwai-Couch, Melanie
Pictures Riwai-Couch, Brigham
Uses simple language to tell the story of Te Rauparaha’s attempts to invade the South Island of New Zealand. Describes how finally Ngāi Tahu grouped together at Akaroa to successfully resist Te Rauparaha, and send Nḡati Toa back to the North Island.

Really interesting when read with “Te Rauparaha: Legend of Aotearoa”, as it feels like a continuation of the story (I don’t know the order of the events). Simplistic drawings could be used as a starter for akonga to illustrate their own stories. Does have a moment of being less suitable for the classroom “Rerewaka said he would slit Te Rauparaha’s belly open with a shark’s tooth”, as they explain why the battle between them was named shark’s tooth. There’s quite a lot of killing in the story.

The Forgotten Taniwha

#colonisation #belief #Rūaumoko

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN-13 9780143520030
Publisher Penguin
Imprint Puffin
Published 2 Feb 2009
Publication Country New Zealand
Format Paperback
Author(s) By Kahukiwa, Robyn

Lovely illustrations, and wonderful introduction to concepts of taniwha, how beliefs or religions are “forgotten”, as well as starting points for conversations around colonisation and legends. I find it frustrating that I don’t know the story behind this – it talks about Rūaumoko burping and causing an earthquake which came with tidal waves and mass destruction, including an airport. My first thought was the Christchurch earthquake, but that was after this book was written.

Taniwha

#Atua #Papatuanuku #Ruaumoko #originstory

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN-13 9780140505986
Publisher Penguin
Imprint Puffin
Published 18 Feb 1987
Author Robyn Kahukiwa
Translated by Keri Kaa

A really lovely story about a little boy who makes friends with a Taniwha. Introduces some of the Māori atua, but the boy gets teased for believing in Taniwha. His koro backs him up and validates his belief in the taniwha, so could lead to some interesting conversation on belief and whether taniwha are real. “Once we flew to the other side of Papatuanuku and saw her baby, Ruaumoko” – is also a great reinforcement of any discussion around origin stories.

Te Rau Aroha – The Kai Truck

#TeRauAroha #ww2 #maoribattalion

Source: Dunedin Public Library

ISBN-13 9780473323301
Publisher AUNTY BEA PUBLICATIONS
Published 1 Jan 2015
Format Paperback
Author(s) By Yates, Piatarihi

Bi-lingual story about a food truck (te rau aroha) that delivered food (and comfort) to the maori battalion in the Second World War food truck “Te Rau Aroha”. The story tells the history and stories of the truck, but also the importance of the Māori battalion. The English version of the story uses many common Māori words, and builds cultural knowledge (particularly around food)

Key words: 28th Maori Battalion ; Waiouru Military camp ; WWII ; muka ; Charlie YM Bennet ; El Alamein ; Tripoli ; Marshall Rommel ; Pita Awatere ; Mingar Quaim ; mokai (pet) ; Orsogna ; Mourea ;

Blimmin’ Koro

#aging #whanau #tangi

Source: Dunedin Public Library

ISBN: 9780947506872
Author: Jill Bevan-Brown
Illustrated: Trish Bowles
Translated: Mahaki Bevan-Brown
ISBN: 9780947506872
Published NZ: 6 Sep 2021
Publisher: Oratia Media
Language: Te Reo Maori, English

This is a beautiful story, written in both English and Māori, that presents aging and the issues that come with it (including dementia) as a natural part of life. “[his] love will never wear out like his body.” Elders are to be treasured and looked after, just as they looked after us, they have lived interesting lives. The story isn’t overally “Māori” other than the use of the word “koro”, but provides Māori culture as a natural part of our world, with an emphasis on whanau bonds, it seamlessly incorporates marae life and tangi with world travel and birthday parties.

Tangaroa’s Fingernails

#Tangaroa #legend #paua

Source: Massey University Library

Illustrator: Mike Howell
Language : English and Maori
ISBN : 9780994147189
Publisher: copy press
Authors: Mike Howell; Moeke Paaka

Tangaroa saves the ocean from and oily blackness, and in the process Paua are formed. An exciting story with gorgeous illustrations that is written in both English and Māori.

Child of Aotearoa

#originstory #whakapapa

Source: Massey university library

ISBN: 9781869486907
Published NZ: 21 Jul 2004
Publisher: Raupo Publishing (NZ) Ltd
Author: Melanie Drewery
Illustrated: Bruce Potter
Language: English

The illustrations are beautiful, with very emotive and evocative text. “Picture a sea, a great sea, with huge swells and pounding waves.” … “Building their homes and taming their lands, fighting their wars for their piece of Aotearoa”. “Wherever you live, however far, you will always have deep inside you a waka, a tribe, a river, a mountain, a chief, and your ancestors linking you to this land.”

Although a beautiful story that emphasises whakapapa it feels like it is lacking some nuance, grouping all Māori together as one people.

Koro’s Medicine

#rongoā

Source: Massey University Library

AUTHOR: Melanie Drewery
ILLUSTRATOR: Sabrina Malcolm
ISBN : 9781869691028
PUBLISHER: Huia Publishers
Imprint: Huia Publishers
Language: English

This is a wonderful introduction to rongoā (traditional Māori medicine), with appropriate safety warnings. It’s a gentle story that introduces using plant-based medicine in a natural way while developing the relationship between Koro and his young mokopuna. Told from the view of tama we too start with skepticism about this plant medicine and slowly start to see the world and Koro’s knowledge with awe and wonder. Māori kupu are used sparsely throughout, without pronunciation guides, but mainly just names of plants (Tī kāuka / Cabbage Tree). Includes warnings, like Ngaio is good for insect repellent, but is highly poisonous, and asking an adult to help when water needs to be boiled.

Pukunui The Astronaut

#atua #tereo

Source: Massey university library

Author & Illustrator: James Waerea; Patrick W. Hohepa
ISBN: 0333416155
Summary: Pukunui makes a kite and flies high into the sky
Language: English with Māori dialogue
Originally published: Probe Publications, 1982.
Publisher: Macmillan New Zealand, 1986.

Interesting to read this as a view of how books for te reo Māori have developed since the 1980s. A cute story about a boy, Pukunui, who has adventures with his friend Moata the Moa. They casually chat with various Māori atua and wildlife. Macrons aren’t used, but the pronunciation guide in the back is encouraging of those wanting to learn te reo Māori. The cartoons use Māori dialogue, which fits with the dialogue used in the text.

Kapa Haka

Source: Massey University Library

ISBN-13: 9780908692057
Author: Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira
Illustrated: Sylvia Huege de Serville
Imprint: Mallinson Rendel Publishers
Publication date: 31 Oct 1999
Summary: Kereana’s dad had gone away and Kereana was very unhappy. But the kapa haka and Keareana’s vivid imagination helped to heal the pain of separation.
Language: English

This beautiful book deals with so many things! Kereana’s dad has to work overseas, but don’t know that immediately, just that he’s gone away and left him, so we talk about grieving, and feeling that he didn’t love her anymore. Kereana talks about thinking she was Japanese until coming home to New Zealand. Joining Kapa Haka, the importance of waiata-ā-ringa, Tahitian dances, and whanau connections.

Rāhui

Source: massey university library

ISBN-13: 9781869694708
Author:, Chris Szekely
Illustrated: Malcolm Ross
Imprint: Huia Publishers
Publication date: January 2013
Summary: This picture book is about cousins’ holidays in a rural Maori community having adventures and fun together – playing in the bush, riding horses, fishing, eeling and swimming at the beach. During the holiday, a death leads to a rahui being placed on the beach. After a year, the rahui is lifted, and they return to the beach full of life and with their cousin in their hearts. The feeling of the book is joyous and wistful, and the illustrations richly evoke the atmosphere of the setting and people.

Short sentences, with dark abstract images. Quite abruptly goes into a child drowning and doesn’t really talk too much about the rāhui. There is more information in the text at the back, but this is more aimed at adults reading the story.

The Legend of the Seven Whales of Ngai Tahu Matawhiti

#hawkesbay #NgatiKahungunu #Wairoa 

Summary: An ancient legend of Ngai Tahu Matawhaiti, hapu of Ngati Kahungunu, this is the tale of how the islands east of Wairoa came to be. Originally published by Mahia Publishers in 1988 and then by Scholastic NZ Ltd in 1990. Mere made the commitment to her father Te Hore (Horace) Epanaia Whaanga that this story would be published. Mere took on the role of writer and illustrator and her father then retold the story in Māori. They agreed that both languages would be included in the finished book.
ISBN: 1869430212  
Publisher: Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Publication date: 1989
llustrator : Mere Whaanga
Author : Mere Whaanga; Epanaia Whaanga
Language : English; Maori

From HB tourism: A mighty tohunga (expert or skilled person) was the master of seven giant whales. The names of the whales were Tahutoria, Takitaki, Korito, Onepoto, Iwitea, Tuhara, and the youngest, Hikunui. It was their duty to be out in the ocean by dawn to feed and collect information from all the fish in the sea.

The Astronomical knowledge of the Māori

Source: Massey University Library

Author: Elsdon Best
Date: 1978
Publisher: New York : AMS Press, 1978.
Notes: Reprint of first eds. published Wellington, N.Z. : Dominion Museum, 1922. Original title of Dominion Museum Monograph No. 3: The astronomical knowledge of the Maori, genuine and empirical: including data concerning their systems of astrogeny, astrolatry, and natural astrology, with notes on certain other natural phenomena.
Digital copy; https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-BesAstro.html

A rather intense book written in a very British anthropological tone. e.g. “Nepia Pohuhu, a Wairarapa adept, who gave the above version, stated that Matariki (the Pleiades) was a young brother of Tongatonga, and that Matariki was conveyed to the Paeroa o Whanui (another name for the Milky Way) to take care of the whanau punga (stars), lest they be jostled by their elders and so caused to fall. This peculiar name for the Milky Way is not clear. Whanui is the star Vega, and paeroa means “a range”; but why should the Galaxy be termed “the Range of Vega”?”