Following 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 will be a valuable resource for anyone wanting to spice up their te reo or English with some fun and cheeky Māori sayings, and will appeal to both language learners and fluent speakers of te reo Māori.

Aimed at readers 8+ but valuable for anyone with an interest in our Pacific kopu tangata (family), this is one of two inaugural books in the Moana Oceania series created by Oratia Books' Editorial Director, Carolyn Lagahetau.

Cook Islands children in New Zealand can see themselves reflected in this book, and all readers can learn about life and nature in this part of the Pacific.

Cook Islands - Kuki 'Airani sets out the seven interconnected pillars that guide Cook Islands life, such as kauraro (respect and obedience to elders) and 'aka'aka (humility and dignity). There are also sections on education, language, history, environment, art, sport and celebrations - and an exploration of how Cook Islanders in Aotearoa maintain and adapt their culture.

Written in Cook Islands Maori and English by noted author Jean Tekura Mason, the book is illustrated with colour photographs throughout, and numerous pull-out boxes of information make the text easy to access.

Aimed at readers 8+ but valuable for anyone with an interest in our Pacific 'āiga (family), this is one of two inaugural books in the Moana Oceania series created by Oratia Books' Editorial Director, Carolyn Lagahetau.

Dahlia Malaeulu provides a comprehensive overview of life in Sāmoa for readers in New Zealand, with text in Gagana Samoa and English. Samoan children will see themselves reflected in these books, and all readers can learn about the islands' culture, language, daily life, history, environment and sport.

Moana Oceania: Sāmoa explains the fundamental values of Fa'asāmoa (Samoan life), including connection to 'āiga (family), nu'u (village), land and religion. It shows how families in Sāmoa live, how they are educated, and how they celebrate and commemorate through dance, music and festivals -- while exploring how Samoans in Aotearoa maintain and adapt their culture.

With colour photographs throughout, the book contains pull-out boxes of information, making the text easy to access.

Here is a full inventory of traditional Maori weapons with all the available written information about traditional weapons collected into one concise volume. Maori Weapons provides complete cultural and technical information on the handmade weapons used by Maori, along with photos and line drawings.
From the well-known taiaha and mere to the more obscure wahaika and maripi, this is a comprehensive guide that will serve a range of readers.
--Dr Hirini Melbourne

Pronounce and understand Māori place names with the new fourth edition of A.W. Reed's classic guide to meanings and origins of names across New Zealand. From Ahaura to Whitianga, this handily sized book is the definitive guide to the most common and notable Māori names on our land.

Why do Whangarei, Tauranga, Motueka and Timaru have the names they do? Why all the fuss about the spelling of Whanganui and Rimutaka? What are the original names for Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin? Māori Place Names gives concise and clear answers, as well as taking in curiosities like one of the world's longest place names--Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

The new Māori Place Names includes maps on the inside covers showing principal names, and also reproduces the illustrations from the original 1950 edition by renowned artist James Berry. For bookshelf, glove box or backpack, this is a must.

Tattooing is in the blood in New Zealand, and styles worn with pride here in Aotearoa are appreciated worldwide by admirers of beautiful design. Tattooing is going through a renaissance also, with a blossoming of styles and wider acceptance of wearing ink.

Chris Hoult immersed himself in the Kiwi tattoo scene from for a year, and brought writer-musician Steve Forbes along for the ride. What they record in New Zealand Tattoo is the view from the studios of New Zealand now, with profiles of leading tattooists including Merv O'Connor, Gordon Hatfield, Monique Mataga and Te Rangitu Netana.

Combining stunning photography and snappy text, New Zealand Tattoo is a celebration of tattooing here in its three rich traditions: Ta Moko (Maori tattoo), Tatau (Pacific Islands tattoo) and Tattoo (European and Asian forms).

Before the 1970s, Maori existed in New Zealand literature as figures created by Pakeha writers. The Maori renaissance of the 1970s changed all that. Fiction writers led by Ihimaera and Grace challenged earlier stereotypes and inherited literary forms, creating a new body of writing that has redefined the Maori in literature.

Until now no single comprehensive critical work has followed this evolution. Paola Della Valle's landmark book sets that to right. From Silence to Voice portrays the early 'silence' of Maori in New Zealand literature - characterised in caricature by colonial writers, then in increasingly sympathetic portraits from the likes of Frank Sargeson, Janet Frame and Noel Hilliard - through to the new and challenging works presented by Maori writers themselves. In an academically brilliant yet easily read analysis, Della Valle also stresses important links with the literature and culture of Italy.

A book to treasure for young and old, Robyn Kahukiwa's Ngā Atua: Mā ori Gods takes the reader on a beautiful visual journey while imparting simple and effective explanations of the major Māori gods.

Robyn introduces the pantheon of Mā ori gods, and explains the arena of life for which each deity is responsible. For example:

Tumatauenga is the greatest warrior atua. His powers are extreme strength and courage. He fights for truth and justice.

This book is a beautiful introduction to some of the unique deities that are part of Aotearoa/New Zealand's cultural story, and affirms their continued relevance today.

The Polynesian navigator Kupe is credited with the discovery of the land his expedition named Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud. How did he and the many canoes that followed find their way to New Zealand without modern navigational techniques through perilous seas in wooden canoes?

By examining myth, star charts and contemporary Polynesian seafaring, Jeff Evans traces the methods by which the early explorers made their epic voyages in Part One. The book's second part travels with Maori canoe expert Matahi Brightwell and navigator Frances Cowan aboard the traditional canoe Hawaiki-nui following traditional navigation--with no modern aids--on its historic voyage from Tahiti down to New Zealand.

Richly illustrated with photos, maps and drawings, this is an essential guide to one of the world's great stories of discovery.

From the Book:
Is he a hippo that looks like a mouse?
Or, is he a mouse too big for this house?

Just who or what is Squeakopotamus? And how will the kids, Mum and Dad keep him fed?

No one yet has ever had a pet like the astonishing, demolishing Squeakopotamus A memorable tale for younger readers, Squeakopotamus crosses hippo-sized fun and zany illustrations with mouse-proud rhyme, rhythm and a happy ending.

The use of te reo Māori in daily New Zealand life is snowballing, as is demand for resources to make learning the language efficient and enjoyable. This book helps answer that demand.

Here in simple terms is a thorough guide to the building blocks of grammar in te reo, showing how to create phrases, sentences and paragraphs.

After an introductory chapter on pronunciation and written forms of the language, 17 chapters introduce the main base words, particles and determiners that guide their use. The book employs real-life examples to illustrate how Māori grammar works day to day.

Te Reo Māori: The Basics Explained draws on David Karena-Holmes' decades of experience teaching and writing about Māori language. Building on his previous works, this updated and expanded approach will be an essential companion for speakers at any level.

In this fresh account of one of the 20th-century's great New Zealanders, Matthew Wright approaches Bernard Freyberg the man rather than the more widely known figure of a military leader. What took a humble immigrant child in Wellington to become a hero in two wars, friend to literary giants and politicians, very private father and husband, and very public Governor General? Freyberg: A Life is the most accessible biography on 'Tiny' Freyberg yet, with numerous black and
white photos.