Over 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.
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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 here -
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: 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. -
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: 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: 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: 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: 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 2023A 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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Title: Toby Curtis Unfinished business: Ki hea āpōpō Author: Sir Toby Curtis, with Lorraine Berridge McLeod ISBN: 978-1-99-004230-0 RRP: $39.99 Specs: 234 x 153 mm portrait, PB, 180 pp Published: 17 November 2022 The Book: Born into poverty in 1939, Toby Curtis rose to the peak of achievement in Māoridom. His long history of leadership in education, broadcasting and the powerful Te Arawa confederation of iwi belied the challenges he had to overcome, and the legacy of colonisation that still overshadow the fields in which he contributed. In this thoughtful and lively memoir, Sir Toby looks back frankly on his life and career — interspersing memoir with text boxes that address policy and academic issues in education, language and indigenous rights. He reflects on a teaching career spent creating connection to tikanga and te reo for his students; leadership in broadcasting, where he helped chart the path to creating an independent voice for Māori; and his 16 years as the leader of Rotorua’s influential Te Arawa Lakes Trust. Toby was knighted in 2014 for his services to Māori education and yet, as this book’s subtitle and contents assert, he saw