Things to Do

Code Club comes to Te Awe Library!

Stephen Clothier

Did you know that you can learn how to code at your local library?

That’s right! In collaboration with our friends at Code Club Aotearoa, we have been running Code Clubs across Wellington City Libraries since 2017. We’re super excited to announce that a new library is joining the Code Club whānau this term — starting tomorrow, Te Awe Library Code Club will be running on Fridays from 3.45 – 4.45pm during the school term.

How do I sign up for Code Club?

There are still spaces available for Code Club at Te Awe Library, but they’ll fill up quickly, so register here while you can:

Register for Te Awe Library Code Club

We also run Code Club at several other libraries around the city — check out our Event Calendar to find one near you!

What do we do at Code Club?

At Code Club, you will complete progressive coding challenges under the guidance of librarians and other coding experts! Most of our Code Clubs start off by covering projects in Scratch 3.0 (and it’s useful if you already have an account, but we can help you make one if you don’t!), with some groups moving on to cover other coding practices like Python and HTML/CSS (using popular multi-purpose coding platform trinket.io).

Here is an example of a game that you might end up designing in Code Club. Can you make it to the end without being run over by a dodgeball, fried by a laserbeam, or falling through the trapdoor? What other hazards could you imagine building into your game?

Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti | Fijian Language Week 2023

Isabel Echeverria

Bula…

… and welcome to Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti | Fijian Language Week 2023! Fiji is a tropical paradise located in the South Pacific Ocean, known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforests. The friendly people of Fiji welcome visitors with open arms, and their culture is rich and vibrant.


Fijian Language Week runs from Sunday 8 – Saturday 14 October. Our theme this year is:

Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa vakaviti | Nurture, preserve, and sustain the Fijian language

If you’re just starting to learn about Fiji, here are some quick iwiliwili vakasakiti — some fascinating numbers — to get you started:

  • Humans have been living in Fiji for over 3,000 years!
  • There are more than 330 Fijian islands, but you’ll only find people living on about 110 of them.
  • Fiji started forming around 150 million years ago, caused by volcanic activity under the sea!
  • The largest island — Viti Levu — makes up 57% of Fiji’s total land area, and holds three quarters of the whole population.

Let’s celebrate Fijian Language Week by exploring the culture of Fiji, visiting your local library for fantastic resources, and embracing the theme of nurturing, preserving and sustaining the Fijian language.

Kai | Kakana

A plant with green, heart-shaped leaves.

Yaqona, also known as the kava plant. Image: Piper methysticum (leaves) by Forest & Kim Starr on Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 DEED.

As in many Pasifika nations, traditional Fijian foods leans on local resources like fish, coconut, kumara, and taro.

Yaqona — a pepper plant found across many Pacific islands — can be made into a beverage called kava, which adults in Fiji drink at celebrations and ceremonies.

Lovo is a meal cooked underground, much like our hāngī in Aotearoa. It requires a lot of preparation and a variety of ingredients, so it’s usually only made for big events like weddings or festivals. Here’s a rough idea of how it’s laid out:

Image: supplied by author.


Useful Words | Vosa Veivukei

Let’s encourage everyone to learn the Fijian language by using simple words and phrases in your everyday conversations. Here are some examples of everyday words you might use:

Ni sa bula vinaka | Greetings/Hello
Ni sa bula vinaka kece sara | Greetings Everyone
Ni sa moce | Goodbye
Kerekere | Please
Vinaka vakalevu | Thank you
Drau sa vakacava tiko? | How are you?
Au daumaka tiko, vinaka | I am fine, thank you
O cei na yacamu? | What is your name?
Na yacaqu ko | My name is ______
Lutu na niu, lutu ki vuna | The coconut falls close to its roots

Language is a wonderful way to connect with others and celebrate diversity. You can learn even more phrases by using the Fijian Language Cards from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples!

Discover Fiji through books!

Look for books about Fiji’s culture, history, and of course, the Fijian language. You can find some more books in the Fijian language on our catalogue here.

Vunimaqo and me : mango tree collections / Kamali, Daren

“A collection of poems, coupled with images that deepen the words, channelling the many voices and the stories of those who found connections and shelter by the mango tree. The author was born and raised in Suva, Fiji, but is now based in New Zealand. In English with some Fijian words, includes a glossary.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Fijian reference grammar / Schütz, Albert J.
“This book is based on over fifty years of research on the Fijian language–both the standard language and its many dialects. It does not attempt to follow any particular linguistic theory, but in contrast, focuses heavily on describing the language in context. The data that it is based on include material written and spoken by Fijians–ranging from the advice offered by the author’s colleagues in the Fijian (monolingual) Dictionary Project to Fijian-language newspapers and textbooks, to recordings of loanwords and casual conversations, and–most recently–the text and DVD of a recent Fijian play, Lakovi. ” (adapted from Catalogue)

My ocean home Fiji / Casey, Penelope
“My Ocean Home Fiji is a beautiful children’s book that tells the story of Tui and his Fijian friends, who explore the magical world under the sea.” (Catalogue)

Fijian for kids / Jahri Jah Jah
“Learn to speak words and phrases in Fijian. This book packs in many common words and phrases., including greetings, colours, numbers, body parts, animals and farewells. It is a great resource for anybody wanting to learn some basic words in Fijian. Suitable for ages 1+” (Catalogue)

Counting in Fijian / Jahri Jah Jah
“Simple illustrations and text introduce the numbers from 1 to 15 in the Fijian language. Suggested level: junior.” (Catalogue)

Fiji / Sorovi-Vunidilo, Tarisi
“The islands of Fiji are full of rich history and culture. Describes the history, customs, geography, and culture of the people who live there, and provides authentic vocabulary words for an immersive experience. Includes a glossary, index, and bibliography for further reading.” (Catalogue)

Let’s come together to make a difference, one word at a time. Vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much) for joining us in this exciting celebration of Fijian Language Week!

Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu | Tuvalu Language Week 2023

Stephen Clothier

Tālofa…

…and welcome to Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu | Tuvalu Language Week 2023! Fakafetai — thank you for joining us in celebrating this beautiful Pasifika nation.

Tuvalu Language Week runs from Sunday 1st to Saturday 7th of October 2023. The theme for Tuvalu Language Week this year is:

Fakatumau kae fakaakoi tau ‘gana ke mautu a iloga o ‘ta tuā. | Preserve and embrace your language to safeguard our heritage identities.

It’s important that we support and protect Tuvaluan people and culture, now more than ever, as their homeland faces a very serious threat.

Due to global warming, the 9 islands that make up Tuvalu are being swallowed by the sea, and it’s predicted that they’ll be impossible to live on within 50-100 years. Without a homeland to anchor their way of life, Tuvaluan traditions and culture are at terrible risk of extinction.

But we can all help to keep Tuvalu alive if we take some time to learn and share Tuvaluan language and culture; spread knowledge and raise awareness throughout Aotearoa and beyond.

Food | Kai

An image of pulaka plants growing in a muddy pit.

Image: Pulaka Pit by Luigi Guarino on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0 Deed.

Like all Pasifika nations, Tuvaluan kai draws heavily on their island resources, like coconuts and seafood. The majority of the working population are farmers, and can happily feed themselves with food produced in their own backyards. The most common crop is pulaka — swamp taro — which grows underground, making it less likely to be damaged by strong weather or rising tides.

Fekei is a popular dessert in Tuvalu, made by wrapping a mixture of coconut cream and grated pulaka in the leaves of the pulaka plant.

Helpful Words | Pati Aoga

Hello! — Tālofa!

My name is ___ — Toku igoa ko ___

Good luck! Cheers! Be well! — Manuia!

Have a good day! — Manuia te aso!

Have a good night! — Manuia te pō!

Have a good journey! — Manuia te malaga!

This lady will pay for everything! — A mea katoa e ‘togi nē te fafine tēnei!

My hovercraft is full of eels — Taku hovercraft kō fonu i pusi

Learn even more phrases using the Tuvalu Language Cards from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples!

Books | Tusi

Au e foliki? = Am I small / Winterberg, Phillip
“‘Am I small?’ – Tamia is not sure and keeps asking various animals that she meets on her journey. Eventually she finds the surprising answer…” This book has been translated into Tuvaluan, and is a bilingual story, meaning it has English and Tuvaluan side-by-side. (Adapted from Catalogue)

A librarian is holding three bilingual books in Tuvaluan in front of the Pasifika language display at Newtown Library

Librarian Ethan shows off some of these beautiful bilingual books at Newtown Library!

Bilingual Tuvaluan Stories / Sioni, Alamai Manuella
Alamai Manuella Sioni and illustrator Chad Robertson have put out a fantastic series of 8 bilingual Tuvaluan picture books — a mixture of legends and stories about life in Tuvalu.

The ili of Funafuti = Te ili o Funafuti / Kaveinga, Meli
“Describes the process used by the women of Funafuti (Tuvalu) to make a fan from coconut palms.” (Catalogue)

The gifts of Pai and Vau = Meaalofa a Pai mo Vau / Riley, David
“Pai and Vau are Nanumea superheroes who created beautiful things in our world. One day a stranger named Tefolaha came to their island. “This is now my island,” he declared and challenged them to a contest. What kind of contest did he dream up? What would Pai and Vau do if they lost?” (Catalogue)

Visit our catalogue to find more books in Gana Tuvalu!

Chinese Language Week 2023 (English)

wcl staff

Read this post in Simplified Chinese!

Read this post in Traditional Chinese!

Da Jia Hao! Neih Hou! 大家好! 你好! This year, we are going to observe Chinese Language Week, a celebration that aims to raise the profile of Chinese languages in New Zealand, from the 17th of September to 23rd of September! Chinese languages are beautiful and special languages. The Chinese characters not only tell you how to say a word, but also show you its meaning. Even more incredible, is the history of written Chinese languages can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (1766 – 1122BC). It is one of the oldest written languages in the world.

There are 302 dialects in the Chinese language, and different places have their own mother tongue. For example, you will hear Shanghainese in Shanghai, or Sichuanese in Sichuan. Most people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese, and in Taiwan, people use Taigi. If you go to Malaysia or Singapore, you’ll find people who speak Hokkien, Cantonese and Hakka! Here in New Zealand, most Chinese speakers use Yue or Cantonese, followed by Mandarin.

Chinese characters can be divided into Simplified Chinese characters and Traditional Chinese characters. Simplified Chinese characters were developed from Traditional Chinese characters. Simplified Chinese is written from left to right, just like English script. However, Traditional Chinese is written from right to left, and it should be read from top to bottom. Today, Simplified Chinese characters are widely used in China, Malaysia, Singapore, while Traditional Chinese characters are primarily used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Library Events

Mandarin Storytime – 10.30 – 11.00am, Sunday 17 September

Te Awe Library, 29B Brandon Street, Wellington. 

To celebrate Chinese Language Week we have a special preschool storytime in Mandarin – we’d love to see you there!

Pre School-Storytime in Mandarin – 10.30 – 11.00am, Wednesday 20 September

Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown.

Fun stories, ancient poetry, songs and rhymes for children aged 4-8 years old with their caregivers.

Children’s Storytime in English and Mandarin – 11.00 – 12.00pm, Saturday 23 September

Karori Library, 247 Karori Road, Karori.

We are happy to announce a Chinese Storytime to celebrate Chinese Language Week of 2023. The session will be in Mandarin and English!

Get ready for engaging storytelling, ancient Chinese Tang poems, exciting songs that will entertain the whole whānau.

Chinese Calligraphy Workshop – 2.00 – 3.00pm, Saturday 23 September

Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown.

Come and experience Chinese Calligraphy. Grind your own ink and use writing brushes for the first time. Let’s learn together.

Trilingual Storytime – 10.30 – 11.00am, Monday 25 September

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, 158 Main Road (Cnr Cambridge Street & Main Road), Tawa.

Celebrate Chinese Language Week with a special storytime in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. Recommended for children aged 2+ years with their caregivers.

Trilingual Storytime – 10.30 – 11.00am, Tuesday 26 September

Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville.

Celebrate Chinese Language Week with a special storytime in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. Recommended for children aged 2+ years with their caregivers.

Traditional Chinese Painting ​ 国画体验 – 10.30 – 11.30am, Thursday 28 September

Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville

Join us at the library to learn about and try your hand at traditional Chinese painting. Our expert will share his traditions and techniques with you, then you can try creating your own artwork! Recommended for children aged 8+ with their caregivers.

Traditional Chinese Painting ​ 国画体验 – 12.30 – 1.30pm, Thursday 28 September

Karori Library, 247 Karori Road, Karori

Join us at the library to learn about and try your hand at traditional Chinese painting. Our expert will share his traditions and techniques with you, then you can try creating your own artwork! Recommended for children aged 8+ with their caregivers.

Traditional Chinese Painting ​ 国画体验 – 3.00 – 4.00pm, Thursday 28 September

Te Awe Library, 29b Brandon Street, Wellington Central

Join us at the library to learn about and try your hand at traditional Chinese painting. Our expert will share his traditions and techniques with you, then you can try creating your own artwork! Recommended for children aged 8+ with their caregivers.

Books in English

To celebrate Chinese Language Week, do not forget to check our children’s collection. We have a wide range of books in the junior fiction and non-fiction section and picture books introducing Chinese customs and culture:

Dim sum, here we come / Lam, Maple
“Today is Sunday and that means its dim sum time with my whole family! I can’t wait to see everyone, especially Grandma. I’m going to eat lots of shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg tarts, and my favourite–char siu buns. We will have to order enough for us all to share. So what are you waiting for? Dim sum, here we come!” (Catalogue)

Cang Jie : the inventor of Chinese characters / Li, Jian
“In ancient times under the reign of Yellow Emperor (about 2500 B.C.), people kept records by piling stones and tying knots. One day, Cang Jie, a historical official who tied knots to keep records under Yellow Emperor, unexpectedly made a big mistake. Feeling very guilty, he was determined to find out a better way for keeping records. […] In this multicultural children’s story, kids will find out that there is a story behind every Chinese character. Children will also learn about basic Chinese characters and how to make them.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The Anchor book of Chinese poetry
“Unmatched in scope and literary quality, this landmark anthology spans three thousand years, bringing together more than six hundred poems by more than one hundred thirty poets, in translations-many new and exclusive to the book-by an array of distinguished translators. Here is the grand sweep of Chinese poetry, from the Book of Songs-ancient folk songs said to have been collected by Confucius himself-and Laozi’s Dao De Jing to the vividly pictorial verse of Wang Wei, the romanticism of Li Po, the technical brilliance of Tu Fu, and all the way up to the twentieth-century poetry of Mao Zedong and the post–Cultural Revolution verse of the Misty poets. […] The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry captures with impressive range and depth the essence of China’s illustrious poetic tradition.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

All about China : stories, songs, crafts and games for kids / Branscombe, Allison
“Take the whole family on a whirlwind tour of Chinese culture and history with this award-winning, delightfully illustrated book complete with stories, activities, and games. This Chinese children’s book is perfect for educators and parents wishing to teach kids about this fascinating Asian country. Travel from the stone age through the dynasties to the present day with songs and crafts for kids that will educate them about Chinese language and the Chinese way of life.” (Catalogue)

Let’s make dumplings! : a comic book cookbook / Amano, Hugh
“Includes dumpling history and lore, this comic book cookbook invites readers to explore the big little world of Asian dumplings and proves that intricate folding styles and flavourful fillings are achievable in the home kitchen.” (Catalogue)

Chinese / Dickmann, Nancy
“This book takes a light-hearted look at the characters and creatures from the Chinese mythological stories. These myths come from different cultural groups, and they include stories about how the world came to be, as well as folk tales and stories with a religious message. The stories are full of gods, monsters, animals, ghosts and nature spirits. The book is structured as a ‘Who’s Who’ of the culture’s myths and legends and has a gossipy, informal tone, allowing the characters’ personalities to come through.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Chinese children’s favorite stories / Yip, Mingmei
“A collection of children’s legends and tales from China. This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the rich store of Chinese folklore and legend. Discover the many delightful animal characters as well as Chang-E, the famous Eight Immortals, and Guan Yin, goddess of compassion. Retold for an international audience, the beautifully illustrated stories will give children aged six to ten in other countries a glimpse into both the tradition and culture of China.” (Catalogue)

Books in Mandarin

We also have a good amount of books in Mandarin that can let you practice your Mandarin! Check out some of our favourites below, or visit the catalogue to find more children’s books in Chinese languages!

First words. Mandarin / Mansfield, Andy
“Bring the Mandarin language to life with this beautifully illustrated children’s book from Lonely Planet Kids, an imprint of Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel guide and phrasebook publisher. Perfect for the whole family, First Words Mandarin features 100 words to use while travelling, from food and transport, to animals and weather. Each word is accompanied with a bold illustration and a simple pronunciation guide to make the vocabulary fun and easy to learn.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The little monkey king’s journey = Xiao Wukong / Li, Jian
“Long, long ago, a little Monkey was born from an old magic stone which suddenly cracked open after lying in the sunlight and moonlight for thousands of years. Although he was an orphan, the Little Monkey was extremely talented. Fortunately, the Monkey King in the mountain adopted him. […] During his journey, with the help from the Immortal Turtle, the Phoenix, the Dragon King and the Immortal, the Little Monkey gained a powerful body. Could he eventually save the life of the Monkey King?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xia tian de cai hong = Summertime rainbow / Yang, Belle
“In this story presented in both English and Chinese, bunnies hop through the meadow on a beautiful summer day, spotting blue sky, white clouds, yummy green grass, and other colorful sights.” (Catalogue)

Home for Chinese New Year : a story told in English and Chinese / Wei, Jie
“The Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions. This Chinese children’s story tells a delightful trip with lots of cultural details along the way! Jia Jun’s Dad worked out of town all year around. Now it’s time for him to come home. He took a train, bus, three-wheeled motorcycle, ferry-boat and even walked for many miles. He finally made it home and had a reunion dinner with his family on New Year’s Eve. […] In a few days, Dad was ready to head back to work, but it was certain that Dad would be home again next year to celebrate the Chinese New Year with his family.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xiao lao shu yu jin zhong zi = The little rat and the golden seed : a story in English and Chinese / Li, Jian
“Age range 5+ Learn how the clever Little Rat earned his place as one of the Chinese Zodiac Animals. This adorable Chinese-English bilingual children’s book tells the story of the Little Rat and the Grandpa — unlikely allies who embark on an adventure to find a golden seed. They encounter rough seas, fierce guards and tall mountains, but — in the end — bring home a golden rice seed and save the village from going hungry.” (Catalogue)

Start your own Chinese language adventure at the library today!

– Thanks to Wei Jing, Kirk & Isabel for creating this blog post

Chinese Language Week 2023 (Traditional Chinese Script)

Wei Jing Tan

Read this post in English!

Read this post in Simplified Chinese!

大家好！你好！我們將在即將到來的9月17日至23日慶祝紐西蘭中文週。舉辦紐西蘭中文週的目的是為了推廣中文學習。中文是一門優美獨特語言，而中文的特別之處在於，中文文字不止傳達了其發音，同時也承載了其涵義。更酷的是，中文的起源可追溯至商朝時期，大約公元前1766至1122年，為世界上最古老的語言之一。  

中文涵蓋了共302門的方言，而不同的地區會有不同的母語。舉例來說，在上海你會聽到上海話，在四川則有四川話。在香港，大家以粵語為主，台灣人則會說台語。如果你有機會到訪馬來西亞或新加坡，你會遇到會說廣東話，福建話，或客家話的華人。在紐西蘭，大部分的華裔都說廣東話，其次則是普通話。  

此外，漢字（中文字）還可以分為簡體字和繁體字。簡體字是從繁體字演化而來，閱讀方式就和閱讀英語一樣，從左到右。而繁體字則相反，排版通常為豎排排版，閱讀方式從右到左，從上到下。如今，中國，馬來西亞和新加坡以簡體字為主；而繁體字則見於台灣，香港和澳門。 

圖書館活動  

為了慶祝中文週，威靈頓圖書館舉辦了各式各樣的活動，歡迎大家一起來參加！ 

普通話故事會 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月17日，星期日  

提亞威圖書館 Te Awe Library, 29B Brandon Street, Wellington.  

為慶祝中文週，提亞威圖書館將舉辦特別的普通話故事會。我們的故事會將包括有趣和好玩的故事及詩詞韻律。建議2歲以上的兒童及其看護人參加。

普通話故事會 – 早上10.30至11.00， 9月20日，星期三  

Newtown圖書館 Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown. 

在Newtown圖書館慶祝紐西蘭中文週。讓4-8歲的華裔兒童及家長體驗中文文化的魅力！其他中文與方言者歡迎！  

雙語故事會 – 早上11.00至下午12.00，9月23日，星期六  

Karori卡羅里圖書館 Karori Library, 247 Karori Road, Karori. 

在Karori圖書館，將有慶祝紐西蘭中文週的活動。活動內容有講故事、唐詩朗誦及展現中文流行樂與童謠，讓4-8歲的華裔兒童及家長體驗中文文化的魅力！其他中文與方言者歡迎！  

書法工坊 – 下午2.00至3.00，9月23日，星期六  

Newtown圖書館 Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown. 

在Newtown圖書館慶祝紐西蘭中文週。一起嘗試研墨執筆，體驗中國書法。

三語故事會 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月25日，星期一  

Tawa圖書館 Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, 158 Main Road (Cnr Cambridge Street & Main Road), Tawa. 

為慶祝中文週，我們將舉辦特別的粵語、普通話和英語的三語故事會。建議2歲以上的兒童及其看護人參加。

三語故事會 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月26日，星期二

Waitohi強生威爾遜圖書館 Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville.

為慶祝中文週，我們將舉辦特別的粵語、普通話和英語的三語故事會。建議2歲以上的兒童及其看護人參加。

書籍  

同時，大家也別忘了到圖書館借閱我們的兒童讀物。在我們的藏書裡，有一系列關於中華文化的書籍：

Dim sum, here we come / Lam, Maple
“Today is Sunday and that means its dim sum time with my whole family! I can’t wait to see everyone, especially Grandma. I’m going to eat lots of shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg tarts, and my favorite–char siu buns. We will have to order enough for us all to share. So what are you waiting for? Dim sum, here we come!” (Catalogue)

Cang Jie : the inventor of Chinese characters / Li, Jian
“In ancient times under the reign of Yellow Emperor (about 2500 B.C.), people kept records by piling stones and tying knots. One day, Cang Jie, a historical official who tied knots to keep records under Yellow Emperor, unexpectedly made a big mistake. Feeling very guilty, he was determined to find out a better way for keeping records. […] In this multicultural children’s story, kids will find out that there is a story behind every Chinese character. Children will also learn about basic Chinese characters and how to make them.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The Anchor book of Chinese poetry
“Unmatched in scope and literary quality, this landmark anthology spans three thousand years, bringing together more than six hundred poems by more than one hundred thirty poets, in translations-many new and exclusive to the book-by an array of distinguished translators. Here is the grand sweep of Chinese poetry, from the Book of Songs-ancient folk songs said to have been collected by Confucius himself-and Laozi’s Dao De Jing to the vividly pictorial verse of Wang Wei, the romanticism of Li Po, the technical brilliance of Tu Fu, and all the way up to the twentieth-century poetry of Mao Zedong and the post–Cultural Revolution verse of the Misty poets. […] The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry captures with impressive range and depth the essence of China’s illustrious poetic tradition.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

All about China : stories, songs, crafts and games for kids / Branscombe, Allison
“Take the whole family on a whirlwind tour of Chinese culture and history with this award-winning, delightfully illustrated book complete with stories, activities, and games. This Chinese children’s book is perfect for educators and parents wishing to teach kids about this fascinating Asian country. Travel from the stone age through the dynasties to the present day with songs and crafts for kids that will educate them about Chinese language and the Chinese way of life.” (Catalogue)

Let’s make dumplings! : a comic book cookbook / Amano, Hugh
“Includes dumpling history and lore, this comic book cookbook invites readers to explore the big little world of Asian dumplings and proves that intricate folding styles and flavourful fillings are achievable in the home kitchen.” (Catalogue)

Chinese / Dickmann, Nancy
“This book takes a light-hearted look at the characters and creatures from the Chinese mythological stories. These myths come from different cultural groups, and they include stories about how the world came to be, as well as folk tales and stories with a religious message. The stories are full of gods, monsters, animals, ghosts and nature spirits. The book is structured as a ‘Who’s Who’ of the culture’s myths and legends and has a gossipy, informal tone, allowing the characters’ personalities to come through.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Chinese children’s favorite stories / Yip, Mingmei
“A collection of children’s legends and tales from China. This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the rich store of Chinese folklore and legend. Discover the many delightful animal characters as well as Chang-E, the famous Eight Immortals, and Guan Yin, goddess of compassion. Retold for an international audience, the beautifully illustrated stories will give children aged six to ten in other countries a glimpse into both the tradition and culture of China. – Publisher.” (Catalogue)

此外，我們也有不少中文書籍，能夠讓你從今天就能開始練習你的普通話哦！

First words. Mandarin / Mansfield, Andy
“Bring the Mandarin language to life with this beautifully illustrated children’s book from Lonely Planet Kids, an imprint of Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel guide and phrasebook publisher. Perfect for the whole family, First Words Mandarin features 100 words to use while travelling, from food and transport, to animals and weather. Each word is accompanied with a bold illustration and a simple pronunciation guide to make the vocabulary fun and easy to learn.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The little monkey king’s journey = Xiao Wukong / Li, Jian
“Long long ago, a little Monkey was born from an old magic stone which suddenly cracked open after lying in the sunlight and moonlight for thousands of years. Although he was an orphan, the Little Monkey was extremely talented. Fortunately, the Monkey King in the mountain adopted him. […] During his journey, with the help from the Immortal Turtle, the Phoenix, the Dragon King and the Immortal, the Little Monkey gained a powerful body. Could he eventually save the life of the Monkey King?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xia tian de cai hong = Summertime rainbow / Yang, Belle
“In this story presented in both English and Chinese, bunnies hop through the meadow on a beautiful summer day, spotting blue sky, white clouds, yummy green grass, and other colorful sights.” (Catalogue)

Home for Chinese New Year : a story told in English and Chinese / Wei, Jie
“The Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions. This Chinese children’s story tells a delightful trip with lots of cultural details along the way! Jia Jun’s Dad worked out of town all year around. Now it’s time for him to come home. He took a train, bus, three-wheeled motorcycle, ferry-boat and even walked for many miles. He finally made it home and had a reunion dinner with his family on New Year’s Eve. […] In a few days, Dad was ready to head back to work, but it was certain that Dad would be home again next year to celebrate the Chinese New Year with his family.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xiao lao shu yu jin zhong zi = The little rat and the golden seed : a story in English and Chinese / Li, Jian
“Age range 5+ Learn how the clever Little Rat earned his place as one of the Chinese Zodiac Animals.This adorable Chinese-English bilingual children’s book tells the story of the Little Rat and the Grandpa — unlikely allies who embark on an adventure to find a golden seed. They encounter rough seas, fierce guards and tall mountains, but — in the end — bring home a golden rice seed and save the village from going hungry.” (Catalogue)

更多關於我們的圖書館中文書籍您可以點擊這裡 

那今天的分享就到這裡結束咯, 就從今天開始屬於你的中文學習旅程吧！

Chinese Language Week 2023 (Simplified Chinese Script)

Wei Jing Tan

Read this post in English!

Read this post in Traditional Chinese!

大家好！你好！我们将在即将到来的9月17日至23日庆祝新西兰中文周。举办新西兰中文周的目的是为了推广中文学习。中文是一门优美独特语言，而中文的特别之处在于，中文文字不止传达了其发音，同时也承载了其涵义。更酷的是，中文的起源可追溯至商朝时期，大约公元前1766至1122年，为世界上最古老的语言之一。 

中文涵盖了共302门的方言，而不同的地区会有不同的母语。举例来说，在上海你会听到上海话，在四川则有四川话。在香港，大家以粤语为主，台湾人则会说台语。如果你有机会到访马来西亚或新加坡，你会遇到会说广东话，福建话，或客家话的华人。在新西兰，大部分的华裔都说广东话，其次则是普通话。 

此外，汉字（中文字）还可以分为简体字和繁体字。简体字是从繁体字演化而来，阅读方式就和阅读英语一样，从左到右。而繁体字则相反，排版通常为竖排排版，阅读方式从右到左，从上到下。如今，中国，马来西亚和新加坡以简体字为主；而繁体字则见于台湾，香港和澳门。 

图书馆活动 

为了庆祝中文周，惠灵顿图书馆举办了各式各样的活动，欢迎大家一起来参加！ 

普通话故事会 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月17日，星期日 

提亚威图书馆 Te Awe Library, 29B Brandon Street, Wellington. 

为庆祝中文周，提亚威图书馆将举办特别的普通话故事会。我们的故事会将包括有趣和好玩的故事及诗词韵律。建议2岁以上的儿童及其看护人参加。 

普通话故事会 – 早上10.30至11.00， 9月20日，星期三 

Newtown图书馆 Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown.

在Newtown图书馆庆祝新西兰中文周。让4-8岁的华裔儿童及家长体验中文文化的魅力！其他中文与方言者欢迎！ 

双语故事会 – 早上11.00至下午12.00，9月23日，星期六 

Karori卡罗里图书馆 Karori Library, 247 Karori Road, Karori.

在Karori图书馆，将有庆祝新西兰中文周的活动。活动内容有讲故事、唐诗朗诵及展现中文流行乐与童谣，让4-8岁的华裔儿童及家长体验中文文化的魅力！其他中文与方言者欢迎！ 

书法工坊 – 下午2.00至3.00，9月23日，星期六 

Newtown图书馆 Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown.

在Newtown图书馆庆祝新西兰中文周。一起尝试研墨执笔，体验中国书法。 

三语故事会 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月25日，星期一 

Tawa图书馆 Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, 158 Main Road (Cnr Cambridge Street & Main Road), Tawa.

为庆祝中文周，我们将举办特别的粤语、普通话和英语的三语故事会。建议2岁以上的儿童及其看护人参加。 

三语故事会 – 早上10.30至11.00，9月26日，星期二 

Waitohi强生威尔逊图书馆 Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville.

为庆祝中文周，我们将举办特别的粤语、普通话和英语的三语故事会。建议2岁以上的儿童及其看护人参加。 

书籍 

同时，大家也别忘了到图书馆借阅我们的儿童读物。在我们的藏书里，有一系列关于中华文化的书籍：

Dim sum, here we come / Lam, Maple
“Today is Sunday and that means its dim sum time with my whole family! I can’t wait to see everyone, especially Grandma. I’m going to eat lots of shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg tarts, and my favorite–char siu buns. We will have to order enough for us all to share. So what are you waiting for? Dim sum, here we come!” (Catalogue)

Cang Jie : the inventor of Chinese characters / Li, Jian
“In ancient times under the reign of Yellow Emperor (about 2500 B.C.), people kept records by piling stones and tying knots. One day, Cang Jie, a historical official who tied knots to keep records under Yellow Emperor, unexpectedly made a big mistake. Feeling very guilty, he was determined to find out a better way for keeping records. […] In this multicultural children’s story, kids will find out that there is a story behind every Chinese character. Children will also learn about basic Chinese characters and how to make them.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The Anchor book of Chinese poetry
“Unmatched in scope and literary quality, this landmark anthology spans three thousand years, bringing together more than six hundred poems by more than one hundred thirty poets, in translations-many new and exclusive to the book-by an array of distinguished translators. Here is the grand sweep of Chinese poetry, from the Book of Songs-ancient folk songs said to have been collected by Confucius himself-and Laozi’s Dao De Jing to the vividly pictorial verse of Wang Wei, the romanticism of Li Po, the technical brilliance of Tu Fu, and all the way up to the twentieth-century poetry of Mao Zedong and the post–Cultural Revolution verse of the Misty poets. […] The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry captures with impressive range and depth the essence of China’s illustrious poetic tradition.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

All about China : stories, songs, crafts and games for kids / Branscombe, Allison
“Take the whole family on a whirlwind tour of Chinese culture and history with this award-winning, delightfully illustrated book complete with stories, activities, and games. This Chinese children’s book is perfect for educators and parents wishing to teach kids about this fascinating Asian country. Travel from the stone age through the dynasties to the present day with songs and crafts for kids that will educate them about Chinese language and the Chinese way of life.” (Catalogue)

Let’s make dumplings! : a comic book cookbook / Amano, Hugh
“Includes dumpling history and lore, this comic book cookbook invites readers to explore the big little world of Asian dumplings and proves that intricate folding styles and flavourful fillings are achievable in the home kitchen.” (Catalogue)

Chinese / Dickmann, Nancy
“This book takes a light-hearted look at the characters and creatures from the Chinese mythological stories. These myths come from different cultural groups, and they include stories about how the world came to be, as well as folk tales and stories with a religious message. The stories are full of gods, monsters, animals, ghosts and nature spirits. The book is structured as a ‘Who’s Who’ of the culture’s myths and legends and has a gossipy, informal tone, allowing the characters’ personalities to come through.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Chinese children’s favorite stories / Yip, Mingmei
“A collection of children’s legends and tales from China. This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the rich store of Chinese folklore and legend. Discover the many delightful animal characters as well as Chang-E, the famous Eight Immortals, and Guan Yin, goddess of compassion. Retold for an international audience, the beautifully illustrated stories will give children aged six to ten in other countries a glimpse into both the tradition and culture of China.” (Catalogue)

此外，我们也有不少中文书籍，能够让你从今天就能开始练习你的普通话哦！

First words. Mandarin / Mansfield, Andy
“Bring the Mandarin language to life with this beautifully illustrated children’s book from Lonely Planet Kids, an imprint of Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel guide and phrasebook publisher. Perfect for the whole family, First Words Mandarin features 100 words to use while travelling, from food and transport, to animals and weather. Each word is accompanied with a bold illustration and a simple pronunciation guide to make the vocabulary fun and easy to learn.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The little monkey king’s journey = Xiao Wukong / Li, Jian
“Long long ago, a little Monkey was born from an old magic stone which suddenly cracked open after lying in the sunlight and moonlight for thousands of years. Although he was an orphan, the Little Monkey was extremely talented. Fortunately, the Monkey King in the mountain adopted him. […] During his journey, with the help from the Immortal Turtle, the Phoenix, the Dragon King and the Immortal, the Little Monkey gained a powerful body. Could he eventually save the life of the Monkey King?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xia tian de cai hong = Summertime rainbow / Yang, Belle
“In this story presented in both English and Chinese, bunnies hop through the meadow on a beautiful summer day, spotting blue sky, white clouds, yummy green grass, and other colorful sights.” (Catalogue)

Home for Chinese New Year : a story told in English and Chinese / Wei, Jie
“The Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions. This Chinese children’s story tells a delightful trip with lots of cultural details along the way! Jia Jun’s Dad worked out of town all year around. Now it’s time for him to come home. He took a train, bus, three-wheeled motorcycle, ferry-boat and even walked for many miles. He finally made it home and had a reunion dinner with his family on New Year’s Eve. […] In a few days, Dad was ready to head back to work, but it was certain that Dad would be home again next year to celebrate the Chinese New Year with his family.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Xiao lao shu yu jin zhong zi = The little rat and the golden seed : a story in English and Chinese / Li, Jian
“Age range 5+ Learn how the clever Little Rat earned his place as one of the Chinese Zodiac Animals.This adorable Chinese-English bilingual children’s book tells the story of the Little Rat and the Grandpa — unlikely allies who embark on an adventure to find a golden seed. They encounter rough seas, fierce guards and tall mountains, but — in the end — bring home a golden rice seed and save the village from going hungry.” (Catalogue)

更多关于我们的图书馆中文书籍您可以点击这里

那今天的分享就到这里结束咯, 就从今天开始属于你的中文学习旅程吧！

Uike Lea Faka-Tonga 2023 | Tonga Language Week 2023

Stephen Clothier

Mālō e lelei kaungāme’a, and welcome to Uike Lea Faka-Tonga 2023 | Tonga Language Week 2023! The Tongan language is spoken by nearly 190,000 people around the world — including about 100,000 across the 45 inhabited islands of Tonga, and over 35,000 here in Aotearoa! Tongan people are a very important part of our whānau in Aotearoa, with over 82,000 people of Tongan descent living here, nearly 3,300 of whom live here in Wellington. (Source: 2018 Census)

This year, the theme for Uike Lea Faka-Tonga is:

‘E tu’uloa ‘a e Lea faka-Tonga ‘o ka lea-aki ‘i ‘api, siasi (lotu), mo e nofo-‘a-kāinga | The Tongan Language will be sustainable if used at home, church and in the wider community

Help us celebrate this special time for the community by learning more about the unique culture, language and history of Tonga and the Tongan people through the books and other resources below!

Celebrating the Life of Emeli Sione

A photo of Emeli Sione wearing a floral headdress, holding the English and Tongan versions of her book 'A New Dawn.' Above is the following text: "Emeli Loulu Aholelei Sione. Sunrise 01.07.74. Sunset 22.08.23."

Image courtesy of Dahlia Malaeulu, Mila’s Books.

Before we share our wonderful pukapuka in the lea faka-Tonga with you all, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the life of Emeli Sione, who passed away in August 2023. Emeli was the bestselling author of A New Dawn (in lea faka-Tonga, Ko e Pongipongi Fo’ou), which was shortlisted for the Elsie Locke Non-fiction Award at this year’s Children’s Book Awards, and has also been shortlisted in the Ngaio Marsh Book Awards, but she also acted as author, editor, translator, advisor, and advocate for many other books in the Tongan language and about Tongan people and culture.

Emeli was a founding member of Mila’s Books based in Moera, Lower Hutt, one of the most significant publishers of children’s books in Pasifika languages in Aotearoa, and the only publishing company in New Zealand that works with an all-Pasifika team of authors, illustrators and editors. Through her work as an author and editor at Mila’s Books, and previously with the Ministry of Education, Emeli’s contribution to Pasifika literature, and Tongan children’s books in particular, can’t be overstated. This month, Mila’s Books are releasing 12 books in Tongan that Emeli worked on as part of the Tongan My Pasifika series — we can’t wait to have these books in our libraries for everyone to enjoy!

A New Dawn by Emeli Sione, published by Mila’s Books

Ko e Pongipongi Fo’ou by Emeli Sione, published by Mila’s Books


Lea Faka-Tonga at the Library

Check out some of our favourite books from the children’s section from and about Tonga, and in lea faka-Tonga:

Tonga / Toumu’a, Ruth
“The islands of Tonga are full of rich history and culture. Describes the history, customs, geography, and culture of the people who live there, and provides authentic vocabulary words for an immersive experience. Includes a glossary, index, and bibliography for further reading.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Tongan heroes / Riley, David
“Tongan heroes presents inspirational stories of achievers who have Tongan ancestry. It includes: Legends like Aho’eitu, Hina and Seketoa, historical figures such as Queen Salote Tupou III, Pita Vi and Professor Futa Helu, contemporary heroes like Jonah Lomu, Captain Kamelia Zarka, Filipe Tohi, The Jets, Manu Vatuvei, Dr Viliami Tangi and Valerie Adams. Readers will be inspired as they discover the challenges these figures faced and overcame, to become some of the world’s best in their chosen fields.” (Catalogue)

The worm and the whale / Halapua, Lisala
“Worms, yams and humpback whales tangle in a heart warming Tongan fable”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)

How Tonga got its name = Ko e founga hono ma’u ‘e Tonga ‘a hono hingoa / Riley, David
“Maui threw his line and hook into the ocean. He felt the hook catch onto something huge and heavy. “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Maui said. What amazing sight did Maui see in the ocean that day?” (Catalogue)

Rise of the To’a / Tatafu, ‘Alisi
“Describes the culture behind the Tongan national rugby league team, Kau To’a, Mate Ma’a Tonga, MMT, and features profiles on each of the players. Also tells the fictional story of Toko, who overcomes his fears and grows in self confidence.” (Catalogue)

Learning Tongan through bathtime / Sanerivi, Deborah
“Follow along with these children as their mother names each of their amazing body parts after fun in the mud. Join them as they go through their bath and bed time routines. Sentences are written in Tongan with their English translations.” (Publisher description)

The eleventh sheep = ko e sipi hono tahataha / Mewburn, Kyle
“When the eleventh sheep falls out of Sian’s dreams and into the real world, Sian is excited to have a new friend. Every day they play together, and at night Sian falls straight asleep with her arms around her woolly friend. But she can tell the eleventh sheep is homesick”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Ko fé ho ihu? = where is your nose / Piliu, Annabel
“An early learning primer for the Tongan language.” (Catalogue)

‘Oku ou lava ‘o tohi : I can write / Lovatt Davis, F. M.
“Photographs and text introduce a range of places where children can write.” (Catalogue)

Also, visit this link to find even more books in lea faka-Tonga at your local library.

More Resources

Check out the following websites to learn more about the islands of Tonga and this beautiful country’s culture, language and history:

New Programme: Cuentacuentos – Storytimes in Spanish

Isabel Echeverria

Buenas noticias! We are happy to announce a new programme called Cuentacuentos! These storytimes are delivered entirely in Spanish!

This is a perfect opportunity to practice your Spanish, so get ready for engaging storytelling and exciting activities that will entertain the whole whānau.

Starting from 2nd September, join us at Te Māhanga, Karori Library on the first Saturday of the month at 11am. Mark your calendar!

Books in Spanish

Whether you are a beginner or looking to expand your knowledge, we have got you covered! Wellington City Libraries are proud to offer a compelling collection of Spanish language materials, from books and magazines to language learning resources.

Follow the catalogue links to reserve the books you would like to the library branch of your choice! We have Spanish language books for young people and learners available at all of our library branches. The largest Spanish collections for young people are available at Karori Library, Johnsonville Library, Kilbirnie Library and Te Awe Brandon Library in the CBD.

For adult readers, we have large Spanish collections at Arapaki Manners Library, Johnsonville Library and Karori Library, with even more available to reserve!

Do you want to practice some phrases, read a story in Spanish? Check out these titles and get ready to say “estoy listo.”

First words

First words in Spanish / Grée, Alain
“Help your child to learn their first words in Spanish with this beautifully presented, interactive learning resource. Shown alongside colourful and appealing illustrations, the words are grouped into child-friendly themes such as colours, numbers, animals, food, holidays and shopping…” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Spanish
“Get the whole family prepared for and excited about an upcoming trip by learning 100 travel-relevant Spanish words – from food and transport, to animals and weather… The perfect first step in learning the Spanish language and encouraging children to be curious about the world around them.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Animales
“This illustrated book for little children stimulates learning the names of animals.” (Catalogue)

Chapter books

Diario del wimpy kid : Un renacuajo / Kinney, Jeff
“Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.” (Catalogue)

Hombre Perro y Supergatito / Pilkey, Dav
“Hombre Perro está de regreso, ¡y esta vez lo acompaña un compinche felino! El dúo tendrá que salir al rescate de una glamorosa estrella de cine desaparecida. ¡Una aventura perfecta para Hombre Perro y Supergatito! When a new sitter arrives and a movie star goes missing, Dog Man and Cat Kid investigate…” (Catalogue)

All-time Classics

Un pez, dos peces, pez rojo, pez azul / Seuss
“A story-poem about the activities of such unusual animals as the Nook, Wump, Yink, Yop, Gack, and the Zeds.” (Catalogue)

Donde viven los monstruos / Sendak, Maurice
“A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.” (Catalogue)

Originally in Spanish

A veces el bosque.. / Nogués Otero, Alex
“A veces el bosque canta y es canció n. Otras, duerme. A veces el bosque sueñ a con fuego o inventa la lluvia y los paraguas. El bosque a veces bromea. A veces, imagina que eres un gigante.Un libro para leer en la corteza de los á rboles y en los misterios de tu mirada.” (Catalogue)

Gilda : la oveja gigante / Urberuaga, Emilio
“Gilda, la oveja gigante, tiene que escapar de la montaña en la que vive. Al llegar a la gran ciudad vivirá una increíble aventura. Pero, ¿encontrará Gilda un nuevo hogar?” (Catalogue)

Gustavo : el fantasmita timido / Drago, Flavia Z
“Conoce a Gustavo. Él es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. También le encanta tocar el violín. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Él es muy, muy tímido, y aunque su deseo más grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el Día de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverá Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?” This picture book is about finding the courage to make friends.” (Catalougue).

Ready for your language adventure?  ¡nos vemos en la biblioteca!

Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani 2023

Stephen Clothier

Kia orāna young readers, and welcome to Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani | Cook Islands Language Week 2023!

We hope you’re excited to share and celebrate some of Aotearoa’s closest whānau with us.

Like Aotearoa, Kūki ʻĀirani is a single country made up of multiple islands – 15 in total. They have their own government but are in “free association” with New Zealand. This means that Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens, free to live and work here as they choose.

The theme of Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani this year is:

‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga ipukarea | Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland

And there’s a lot of culture to connect with!

A photo of a woman sitting on a woven harakeke mat, weaving a colourful mat.

Image: Woman sewing Tivaevae in Rarotonga by John Colles Burland. Alexander Turnbull Library Archive, Ref No. PA12-0503-20.

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani (the Cook Islands Māori language) and traditional arts are still proudly shared throughout the islands. Cook Islanders are known for their woodworking skill and textiles, like the patterned Tivaevae quilt.

The Cook Islands are also known for an interesting musical history which has changed over time, mixing traditional music, church music, ukulele and electronic ukulele. Traditional Cook Islands music has a unique and powerful sound, using both wooden drums (lali/pātē) and skin drums (pahu/pa’u), wind instruments, and singing.

A collection of wooden and skin drums arranged on a woven mat.

Image: Pa’u mangō (skin drum) from Te Papa Tongarewa, Ref No. FE010085. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

In the recent Kia Mau Festival — a Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous arts festival in Wellington — there was a show called ‘Avaiki Nui Social which featured some of the best musicians from across the 15 Cook Islands.

In the video below, Cook Islands artist Tu Aratini talks about ‘Avaiki Nui, and explains some of the history of the group and of music in the Cook Islands. Some other great musicians to check out are father/daughter pair Will and Annie Crummer. Will was quite famous back in the 1960s, and Annie has been rocking it since the ’80s. You can find some of their music, and music by other Cook Islands musicians, on our catalogue!

A chef holds a small bowl with a mixture of fish, green herbs, lemon, coconut, and other aromatics.

Image: Still from How to make IKA MATA by TheCoconetTV.

As well as music, our Cook Islands whānau are also well known for their food, or kai. Kai from Kūki ‘Āirani often draws on the use of local sea life, with their most popular dish being Ika Mata. Ika mata means ‘raw fish,’ but it actually involves ‘cooking’ the fish by allowing it to soak in lemon juice and coconut.

Sound yum? Check out this “how to” video from TheCoconetTV to learn how to make it for yourself, or check out Sonja’s Kitchen: Sustainable Cuisine from the Cook Islands, a cookbook by Dee Pigneguy and Sonja Raela full of delicious recipes from across the Cook Islands!

Celebrating Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani in Aotearoa

With such a proud culture back home, it’s not surprising that Cook Islanders in Aotearoa can often feel disconnected, both from their whānau (family) and from their hanua (homeland).

One of the reasons we celebrate Te ‘Epetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani this week is to make sure our Kūki ‘Āirani whānau know that the culture of their homeland is loved and appreciated no matter where they are.

By learning to use more Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani throughout Aotearoa, we also strengthen our own connection with the world that we all share.

Here are some simple phrases that you can practice with (visit the Ministry of Pacific Peoples’ website for more!):

Hello! — Kia orāna!

Thank you — Meitaki

Goodbye (when you are leaving) — ‘Ē no’o rā

Goodbye (when someone else is leaving) — ‘Aere rā

Yes — Āe

No — Kare

My name is… — Ko … tōku ingoa

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani at the Library

Browse our selection of some of our favourite books in Cook Islands Māori, or about the Cook Islands, below. Don’t forget you can find more books in Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani on our catalogue!

Cook Islands / Kingstone, Taria
“Introduces the history, climate, population, social structure and unique ceremonies of the Cook Islands, and the importance of religion to its people. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.” (Catalogue)

Kua kitea ‘a māmā = Finding mum / Long, Don
“In the supermarket, a little boy retraces his footsteps in order to find his mum.” (Catalogue)

Legends of the Cook Islands / Hopkins, Shona
“Collection of eight illustrated legends from the Cook Islands. Set in a mythological time known as Avaiki, these stories tell of brave men and women, mystical mountains, powerful gods and majestic sea creatures. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.” (Catalogue)

Cook Islands heroes / Riley, David
“Cook Islands Heroes tells the inspirational stories of achievers who have Cook Islands ancestry. It includes legends like Ina, Māui, Ngaru and Ru; historical figures such as Pa Tuterangi Ariki/Sir Thomas Davis, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Mautara and Margharet Matenga; and contemporary heroes like Lima Sopoaga, Mīria George, Dr Kiki Maoate, Kevin Iro, and Teremoana Raply.” (Publisher description)

‘Ei for the day / MacGregor, Jill
“Yvette and Kiikii wear an ‘ei and an ‘ei katu when their dance group performs at the Saturday Morning Market in Rarotonga​​.” (Catalogue)

 

Celebrate Hairy Maclary’s 40th Birthday at the Library!

Stephen Clothier

This month marks a very special anniversary for a very special dog — it’s Hairy Maclary’s 40th birthday! First scampering their way onto the pages in July 1983 in Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, Lynley Dodd’s playful canine creations Hairy Maclary, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bitzer Maloney, Bottomley Potts, and Schnitzel von Krumm have been delighting readers (and running away from frightening felines!) for more than two generations.

To celebrate this very special occasion, we are hosting some very special Hairy Maclary-themed activities next week for the whole whānau to enjoy. Nau mai — everyone is welcome! We would love to see you there.

Hairy Maclary Family Storytimes!

Scatter your paws and clatter your claws as you trot on down to the library to celebrate 40 years of canine capers at our special Hairy Maclary-themed storytimes! Join us for stories, songs, and a special craft. Recommended for tamariki aged 2+ with their caregivers.

Hairy Maclary’s Great CRAFTerschool Caper

Out of the gate and off for a walk… to the library for CRAFTerschool! Join us at the library to celebrate Hairy Maclary’s 40th birthday with a special craft activity for tamariki to enjoy. Recommended for tamariki aged 5+ with their caregivers.

Let’s Go LEGO®: Hairy Maclary and Friends!

Have you ever thought about what Donaldson’s Dairy might look like if you made it out of LEGO®? Help us celebrate Hairy Maclary’s 40th birthday with this specially-themed LEGO® session at the library. Recommended for tamariki aged 5+ with their caregivers.

Can’t make it to one of our special Hairy Maclary events? Don’t worry, we have plenty of books featuring Aotearoa’s favourite pooch in our collection, including copies in te reo Māori and Chinese.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy / Dodd, Lynley
“A small black dog and his canine friends are terrorized by the local tomcat.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary scattercat / Dodd, Lynley
“Feeling very frisky, a little black dog enjoys chasing all the cats he meets until he comes across Scarface Claw.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack / Dodd, Lynley
“Zachary Quack, a small and determined duckling, sets out to play with a rather reluctant Hairy Maclary. A ‘cat and mouse’ chase follows, with the two characters ending up peacefully snuggled together after Zachary Quack has saved a soggy Hairy Maclary from the river.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary’s showbusiness / Dodd, Lynley
“When Hairy Maclary bounces and pounces his way into the cat show, his flustering and blustering bring a very unexpected result…” –Back cover.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary hide and seek : a lift-the-flap book / Dodd, Lynley
“Hairy Maclary is playing hide and seek with the neighbourhood cats. Can you find him?” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary and friends : a touch & feel book / Dodd, Lynley
“Introduces Hairy Maclary, his canine friends and Scarface Claw, the toughest Tom in town. On board pages, with materials to touch and feel. Suggested level: preschool.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary no te teri a tanarahana / Dodd, Lynley
“Ki waho i te keti te hikoitanga a Hairy Maclary no te Teri a Tanarahana …Ka haere tahi nga hoa o Hairy Maclary ki a ia mea noa ake, ka oho mai he aue, he ngawi, he ngawe, makere kau ana ta ratou omanga ke. Na te aha ra a matihao ma i marara ai? ‘Eutaki ai te tamaiti ki te ao pukapuka.’ The Times” (Catalogue)

Schnitzel Von Krumm forget-me-not / Dodd, Lynley
“Schnitzel von Krumm’s family is packing to go on holiday. The little dog meddles and snoops and gets underfoot until everyone is driven mad. At last the car is packed; seatbelts are fastened and they all set off. But when they’ve driven far out of town they stop and realise their horrible mistake. Schnitzel has been left behind!”–Publisher information.” (Catalogue)

Zachary Quack minimonster / Dodd, Lynley
“When mischievous duckling Zachary Quack meets a flicketty-quick dragonfly, he hustles it into the air. But who is really hustling who? Zachary Quack stars in his own big adventure as he chases a dragonfly through some very sticky situations.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary, shoo / Dodd, Lynley
“When Hairy Maclary decides to snoop inside a parked delivery van, he’s in for a chaotic adventure. After a rattling, roaring ride, and finding himself far from home, he desperately tries to get back to the Dairy creating havoc and incurring the wrath of shopkeepers, schoolteachers and passers-by along the way.” (Catalogue)

Hairy Maclary’s caterwaul caper / Dodd, Lynley
“With a twitch of his tail and a purposeful paw, down by the river crept Scarface Claw!” (Catalogue)