Tag: maori stories
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A Wealth of Inspiration in Witi Ihimaera Smiler’s Te Kaikaukau
One of my favourite sessions of Auckland Writers Festival was Witi Ihimaera Smiler’s free event where he talked about the experiences that make up Te Kaikaukau. Just shy of 80, Witi made the plunge to consciously step into an immersive te reo Māori experience, whereby for a year he learnt from fellow students and his…
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Lessons from Hinengaro in Dr Hinemoa Elder’s Ara
This pukapuka had me immersed from start to finish, and I usually wouldn’t say that about a nonfiction book. There is just something so special about Ara, so (excuse the pun) mindful, and each rua had me thinking so deeply about so may things in my life, my past, my emotions, and so much more.…
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adult book recs, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, ara, aroha, book recommendations, book review, contemporary non fiction, dr hinemoa elder, maori author, maori literature, maori myths, maori non fiction, maori proverbs, maori stories, Non Fiction, non fiction book recs, NZ author, NZ book recs, nz literature, nz non fiction, NZ stories, self help books, self help reads, te reo maori books, wawata -
Listening to the Moon with Dr Hinemoa Elder’s Wawata
Matariki is almost upon us, so let me share a Mānawatia a Matariki with you all. May your family find love, happiness, and comfort in each other. May those who have passed since the last Matariki be at peace. May we all take the lessons we have learnt over the many years and reflect upon…
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Bringing Mana Back in Tame Iti’s Mana
I had the absolute pleasure of listening to the iconic, influential, and incredibly intelligent Tāme Iti speak across multiple sessions at the Auckland Writers Festival in May, and he has been one of the key people in reshaping my approach to reconnecting with te ao Māori and te reo Māori. Through his own mana and…
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Resonating with Dr Hinemoa Elder’s Aroha
In my journey to reconnect with my ancestors, my ao Māori, and myself once again through reading, and in light of July housing Matariki, the Māori New Year this year, I have opened my mind and soul to this wonderful pukapuka (book). Dr Hinemoa’s Elder’s Aroha is a collection of whakataukī (proverbs) that she has…
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My Waitangi Day Read is Airana Ngawera’s The Last Living Cannibal
As soon as I heard Airana Ngawera was releasing another novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After several busy months of PhD work and an unfortunate bout of reader burnout, which resulted in me returning my library copy of The Last Living Cannibal unread, I managed to get my hands…
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New Zealand Fiction Excellency in Keri Hulme’s Iconic The Bone People
What a rollercoaster this novel is! Keri Hulme’s exceptional and iconic classic kiwi novel The Bone People, winner of the Booker Prize in 1985, is a masterful literary fiction novel which blends language, narrative structure, and style to deliver a compelling, emotional, and gut-wrenching story you will not forget. In a tower on the New…
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Monty Soutar Returns with Kawai: Tree of Nourishment
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,…
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The Mires by Tina Makereti – Intense and Charming
The Mires by Tina Makereti, shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockhams 2025, will immerse you in a tale of indigenous folklore, suspense, domestic drama, and the threat of extremism on ordinary lives. It is a magical page-turner from start to finish, and it won’t take you more than a…
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Read Maori Creation Myths in Witi Ihimaera’s Navigating the Stars
Mānawatia a Matariki! Happy Matariki to all! Stories are a significant part of life. Myths are a kind of story, one that tells the story of the origins and beginnings of a world, of the first people, and the beliefs that shape who we are. Witi Ihimaera’s Navigating the Stars is a collection of Māori…
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