News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

This month there’s a strong theme of reo – self-tuition in grammar and greetings for formal occasions as well as Katerina Mataira’s collection of stories in te reo, for teens. An interesting publication from Huia, showcases Māori scholars writing on the history of Aotearoa New Zealand, there’s Paula Morris’s New Zealand Post fiction award winner, Rangatira and 100 sports heroes.

Huia histories of Māori : ngā Tāhuhu Kōrero / edited by Danny Keenan.
“This comprehensive history of Aotearoa New Zealand is written entirely by Māori scholars actively researching and writing in their respective fields. Huia Histories of Māori takes a fresh look at what Māori history is and how it differs markedly from those histories of Māori formerly portrayed, providing both fresh views on events in the past as well as new insights into customary Māori constructions of ‘history’” – (adapted from Back cover summary)

Te wahapū : launch yourself into te reo Māori / Ian Cormack.
“Te Whahapū is the second book in this comprehensive, enjoyable and easily understandable self-tuition course for Māori language… The books offer a reference text, workbook and audio resource all in one. They are structured in units, each opening with a dialogue and followed by explanations of words, experessions and language patterns.” – (adapted from Back cover summary)

Whaikōrero. Manuhiri 1 : a study of formal speeches of greeting, endorsement (tautoko), replies (poroporoaki) and speeches of thanks to the cooks (ringawera) made by the guest delegation in indigenous oral literature / by Sam Rerekura.
“This resource not only covers formulae for guest speakers but also speeches of endorsement (tautoko). A poroporoaki section has been included to encourage students to revive the dying art form. A comprehensive explanation of the different types of poroporoaki is provided to foster a better understanding of the practice. A section has been dedicated to speeches directed to the all-important ringawera (cooks) who labour tirelessly in the kitchen.” – (adapted from Catalogue notes)

Ngā waituhi o Rēhua / nā Katerina Te Heikōkō Mataira ; [nā Andrew Burdan ngā pikitia].
“Novel for young adults in Māori. Stories originally published for the Ministry of Education as individual titles: Rēhua (2006); Hōkio (2008); Maungaroa (2009); and, Hokingaroa (2010). Accompanied by audio DVD with a recording of the text. Contents: Rēhua — Hōkio — Maungaroa — Hokingaroa. Summary: “Follows four teenagers living on Rēhua, a planet settled after Earth is destroyed by ecological disasters and global war. The four raise hōkio, giant mystical birds, which take them on flights to explore their new world.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Rangatira : a novel / by Paula Morris.
“This intriguing and engrossing novel vividly brings to life colonial New Zealand and Victorian England through the eyes of a Ngati Wai rangatira. Paula Morris has done an extraordinary job capturing the life of her tupuna, Paratene Te Manu, and gives him a voice that is at once authentic and insightful.” – (Carol Hirschfeld)

100 Māori sports heroes / Joseph Romanos.
“There are 36 sports represented in this book … In selecting my 100 I have been influenced by two factors: how good were the athletes at sport, and how proudly did they represent Māori? … It was no easy feat limiting the list to 100.” – (Introduction)

This month there is a fascinating book on early New Zealand photography which shows not only well-known portraits and scenes, but gives insightful stories into their backgrounds.

Matatoa : fathers & sons / produced and edited by Marina Sciascia, Hilary Pedersen, Brian Morris.
“Porangahau is a significant coastal district, long settled by Ngati Kere iwi and later by high profile early colonisers. Like its highly successful predecessors ‘Hakui Mothers Of Porangahau’ and ‘Tuahine Sisters Of Porangahau,’ the book is a compilation of family- written stories initiated by local women Marina Sciascia and Hilary Pedersen of Te Hanganui Partnership (The Work Of Two). ‘Matatoa Fathers And Sons’ is packed with information. Whakapapa, genealogy, early history and personal recollections sit side by side contained within 450 pages and 300 photographs.” – (excerpts from Publisher’s description)

Whaikōrero. Tangata whenua 1 : a study of formal speeches of welcome made by the host delegation in indigenous oral literature / by Sam Rerekura.
“I am privileged to share with you the notion that the tikanga rituals of welcoming visitors and feeding them on the marae, originate from the heavens…. This is the second of a set of four resources created to instruct stage one students in whaikōrero. It focuses on speeches made by the tangata whenua or host people when welcoming visitors.” – (Introduction)

Always speaking : the Treaty of Waitangi and public policy / edited by Veronica M.H. Tawhai and Katarina Gray-Sharp.
“The place of the Treaty of Waitangi in public policy has undergone radical changes over the past few decades in response to debates on the role of the Treaty in New Zealand’s development. In this publication, the foremost Māori thinkers provide insights on the current place of the Treaty, the challenges faced and possibilities for further development” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Early New Zealand photography : images and essays / edited by Angela Wanhalla and Erika Wolf.
Includes: Persistant images ; Maori photographs in English museum collections by Jocelyne Dudding ; Foy Brothers’ portrait of Ana Rupene Whetuki and child by Ken Hall ; Text and image in Alfred Burton’s photograph of the scene of the ‘Hursthouse outrage’ at Te Kumi (1885 by Christine Whybrew ; Photography and the ethnological macabre by Roger Blackley.

Mana tangata : politics of empowerment / edited by Huia Tomlins-Jahnke and Malcolm Mulholland.
“This collection of essays by Māori experts examines issues involving the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori culture, Māori health and the environment. It analyses particular disciplines through the Māori concept of Mana Tangata – Empowering People, and offers insights and solutions for issues that have long confronted Māori.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Māori and social issues / edited by Tracey McIntosh and Malcolm Mulholland.
“This volume canvases a range of social issues that are significant for a better understanding of the experiences and social environment of Māori and highlight the need to ensure research-based solutions to the challenges presently faced– a collection of chapters by specialists in their disciplinary areas from various social and health sciences.” – (Back cover)

Te hao nui = The great catch / edited by Fiona McKergow and Kerry Taylor ; photography by Michael Hall.
“Provides … insights into the history, people and places of Manawatū and beyond. Based on the collections of Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, it reveals the stories of 40 treasured objects, from taonga Māori to domestic craft, children’s toys to early industrial design. Te Hao Nui: The Great Catch also casts light on how museums build their collections, and the legacy these offer future generations” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Along a fault-line : New Zealand’s changing local government landscape / edited by Jean Drage, Jeff McNeill and Christine Cheyne.
Includes: Part II, no. 4. Māori representation, local government and the Auckland Council by Ann Sullivan ; Part III, no. 9. Te ao Māori in local government by Karen Webster.

Words between us : first Māori-Pākehā conversations on paper = He Kōrero / Alison Jones and Kuni Jenkins.
“This book traces Māori engagement with handwriting from 1769 to 1826. Through beautifully reproduced written documents, it describes the first encounters Māori had with paper and writing and the first relationships between Māori and Europeans in the earliest school. The book tells an image-led story about the earliest relationships between Māori and Pākehā based around the written word and sheds light on a larger story of the first attempts of Māori and Europeans to live together in the early 1800s and the negotiation of the relationship through writing.”

Rongoa Maori : a practical guide to traditional Maori medicine / Rob McGowan. “This book is made up of two sections: The first deals with the foundation of rongoa Maori, traditional Maori medicine. It talks about the fundamental understandings that are the basis of rongoa. The second section focuses on the practical aspects of learning about rongoa Maori and how to use it. It deals with identifying the plants you might want to use, their harvesting and preparation, etc.” – (Introduction)