Back with another stunning and shocking novel, Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment by Dr. Monty Soutar continues the story of the powerful lineage of his line, providing a captivating tale of a period of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history that is full of action, conflict, and change. If you enjoyed Kāwai: For such a Time as This, then you are in for a treat with this one.

It’s 1818 on the East Coast of Te Ika-a-Māui, New Zealand. Hine-aute, granddaughter of the legendary warrior Kaitanga, is fleeing through the bush, a precious yet gruesome memento contained in her fishing net. What follows is a gripping tale of a people on the cusp of profound change that is destined to reverberate through many generations to come. The Europeans have arrived, and they’ve brought guns and foreign diseases, ushering in a whole new world of terror and trouble. They’ve also brought a new religion, which will cause Māori to question everything they had believed to be true. Hine and her sons Ipumare and Uha are caught in the crossfire of change, creating fractures in their close familial bonds and undermining everything they hold dear. From raids by musket-wielding war parties to heightened internecine warfare; from the influx of whalers, traders and Christian missionaries to the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi, Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment strikes hard and deep into the heart of the initial impact of colonisation on Māori, and is guaranteed to leave readers stunned.

Not a lot of people will know about Aotearoa New Zealand’s history, especially if you are from the global north or outside of Oceania. The interactions between Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori, specifically the British in this case) are pivotal in our country’s history, and Aotearoa as we know it today was forever changed in the early to mid-19th century where this book is set. Even New Zealanders will have several things to learn about our history during this time which is not covered in high school social studies and history lessons. Monty Soutar has brought a true glimpse of Aotearoa in the early years of British colonisation to readers with Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment, and it is time we saw our history brought to life. With such vivid, rich description and characters whose very essence transcends the pages, Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment beckons the next chapter of this family lineage to the forefront, and enchants the reader in the process.

Now, I want to make it clear that each iwi (tribe) had their own reactions to the British ships that arrived on the shores of Aotearoa, and this is a retelling of how the author’s iwi dealt with them. It may not be wholly accurate given this is a work of fiction, even if he is a historian looking into his family’s lineage. That is part of what fiction does – uses true events and people to inspire a story. The themes, sentiments, and events may not be exact thoughts of from the people these characters are based on, but they are the thoughts and feelings of many in the decades surrounding the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi – and yes, they are two seperate documents given they contain different articles that mean different things in their language, and that is a big point of contention with these documents. We are still seeing the ramifications of these misaligned documents today.

Nevertheless, Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment is an immersive and engaging read, providing sharp detail and harrowing truths that will stun you. As I said with Kāwai: For Such a time as This, fantasy reader, historical fiction readers, and non-fiction readers interested in a closer personal perspective to these significant moments of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history will enjoy this epic Māori novel. It is full of grit, blood, emotion, and conflict, and shines a light on the tools of colonisation that have devastated man countries the world over and continue to do so today.