Oratia brings the best of book publishing to readers and clients alike.
Oratia is a publisher of books based outside Auckland, with distribution across New Zealand and representation in many parts of the world.
Our multicultural team collectively has decades of experience in all aspects of publishing and a commitment to quality values in editorial, design, print and production.
In addition, we offer our publishing and communications skills to organisations wanting to publish privately.
Whether it’s a great book or quality publishing services, you’ll find the right home with Oratia.
Our name comes from the beautiful forest area in which we live and work, west of Auckland in the Waitakere Ranges.
Ō-rā-tía is a Māori name that means ‘Place of long-lingering sunshine’, from a traditional story in which the wife of the West Wind paused here to sunbathe.
News
What’s in a Name? / He aha tō te Ingoa?
Multicultural picture book with Kiwi Indian main character tells the importance of people’s names
What’s in a Name?
He aha tō te Ingoa
Renisa Viraj Maki
Illustrated by Isobel Joy Te-Aho White
Translated by Hona Black
Kiwi-Indian author Renisa Viraj Maki’s newest book tells a gentle and beautiful story about the mana our names carry.
In a school that reflects modern, multicultural Aotearoa New Zealand, pupils from diverse cultures have names that might seem difficult to say – a situation that many children encounter.
Priyanka definitely is worried when she is tasked with reading out the students’ names at the end-of-year assembly. Wanting to pronounce them correctly, she goes around the school yard to find her classmates and learn about their names.
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Poutini: The Māori History of the West Coast
Poutini: landmark book documents the remarkable Māori history of the South Island West Coast
Poutini: The Māori History of the West Coast
Paul Madgwick
‘Māori 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,’ says journalist, iwi historian and West Coaster Paul Madgwick. ‘So why is the Māori story so impoverished in a region so rich in storytelling?’
In his new 528-page book Poutini: The Māori History of the West Coast, Madgwick sets out to correct this by recording the Ngāi Tahu history of the West Coast, one of the most colourful of New Zealand regions.
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There’s a Crab in my Castle takes young readers to the rocky shore
There’s a Crab in my Castle / He Pāpaka kei taku Pā
Dawn McMillan
Illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson
Translated by Stephanie Huriana Fong
Fourth book in bilingual nature story series takes young readers to meet seaside creatures
Summer is coming and there’s plenty of action for young readers down at the seashore in the latest addition to the nature story series by bestselling author Dawn McMillan.
When an inquisitive girl goes to the rocky shore she builds a sandcastle and soon gets many visitors: crab and sandhoppers, snapper, kina, manta ray and more.
The fun ensemble of seaside creatures is brought to life across colourful pages with evocative pictures.
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Moana Oceania Series: Fiji – Viti
Photo-packed introduction to the people, culture and identity of Fiji arrives in new bilingual book
Moana Oceania Series: Fiji – Viti
by Tarisi Vunidilo
Despite Fiji being among the largest Pacific Island nations, there is a dearth of good books about the country in print.
This fourth volume in the Moana Oceania Series aims to address that situation with highly illustrated text in English and Fijian.
Fijian–New Zealand educator Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the people, culture and identity of her homeland in simple terms in the colourful and informative Moana Oceania: Fiji – Viti.
The bilingual text offers insights into society, geography, legends, arts, history and language — outlining the values of Fiji’s people, and how families live and celebrate life.
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