Books: Te Reo Māori Themes
Mahi Tahi
Source: Dunedin Public Library
ISBN-13 9780473423506
Publisher Edumaxi
Imprint EduMaxi Limited
Published 1 Jan 2018
Publication Country New Zealand New Zealand
Format Mixed media product/Mixed Media, Paperback / softback and 1 CD-Audio
Edition 2nd edition
Language Te Reo Maori
Author(s) By Holt, Sharon Lee
Illustrated by Hindt, Deborah Jane
Series Te Reo Singalong (part: 9)
This is a fun and easy to learn song, with fun illustrations as a read-aloud book too. Has guitar chords, English translation and the song is available on soundcloud. Simple actions – go carefully elephants, hands up monkeys, don’t be lazy bats, close your mouth crocodiles etc, and then back to work together children. It would’ve been awesome if they’d used animals commonly (or even native) found in New Zealand, but does provide simple phrases that can be used everyday.
Other books in the series:
- Ngā Āhua – shapes, good for learning the names of shapes, and reading as a picture book great that it asks to find and count the hidden shapes on each page – but not helpful as a class read-aloud, and as a class song to sing makes no sense for counting. Author provides read through, pronunciation help and activities on website.
- Ngā Atua Māori – connecting ākonga to atua (gods), which can be difficult in classrooms with students who have deeply held religious convictions as the song/story is “we are descendants of Papatūānuku, the god of the earth below” etc. Author suggests researching the creation stories from a wide range of different cultures as part of this introduction to Māori gods and their dominion. Sweet song.
- Te Kāhui o Matariki –
TR & Mack the hopeful Black Dog
Source: Massey University Library
ISBN-13 9780473508555
Publisher: I Am Hope Foundation
Published 2020
Publication Country New Zealand
Language: English with Te Reo Maori
Author(s) Mike King & Tommy Wilson
Illustrated: Gordon Miller
Editor: Jan Far
While the main theme of this story is bullying, this very kiwi book has a lot of things to develop discussions. It uses a lot of common te reo Māori, including page numbers, however, each word introduced also comes with pronunciation and definition. It also subtly presents the idea bullies are without a foundation (tūrangawaewae), talks about building wairua and confronting a bully (without putting pressure on the person being bullied).
Kapai Bungy Jumps
Source: Massey University Library
Author: Uncle Anzac (a collaboration between Tomy Wilson, Freelance Animators and Jon Gadsby)
Published: 1 October 1995
ISBN: 9781869412647
Imprint: RHNZ Children’s
Format: Paperback
Language: English with Te Reo Maori
Cute story that casually uses te reo Māori kupu, however, there are no pronunciation guides or definitions, so need to use prior knowledge or context clues. Could be useful for discussing bravery, but mostly just a sweet story.
Mihi
Source: Massey University Library
Author: Gavin Bishop
Illustrator: Gavin Bishop
Format: Board Book
Publisher: Gecko Press
Date: 2021
ISBN: 9781776573028
Language: Te reo Māori
Nothing indepth, simply a basic walk through introduction:
- Tōku Waka
- Tōku Maunga
- Tōku awa
- Tōku Marae
- Tōku Iwi
- Tōku Whānau
- Tōku Māmā
- Tōku Pāpā
- Ko ahau tēnei
Ngā Atua Māori
Source: Massey University Library
ISBN-13: 9780995134928
Published 1 Oct 2020
Author(s) By Holt, Sharon Lee
Illustrated by Thatcher, Stephanie
Publisher Edumaxi
Imprint EduMaxi Limited
Series Te Reo Singalong (part: 25)
Language Te Reo Maori
There is a song available on soundcloud and with cd in book. The book and song are 100% te reo Māori, with an English translation provided as a teaching resource at the front. Also provides ideas on introducing māori atua in the classroom and links to the NZ curriculum. Sensitivity will be required using this in a class with akonga who have deeply religious views:
Ko wai au? Ko wai koe? Ko wai ia?
He mokopuna tātou nā Papatūanuku, te atua o te whenua e taktoo nei.
Who am I? Who are you? Who is he/she?
We are descendants of Papatūānuku, the god of the earth below.