What’s your favourite Māori book?

Arabella King 

(Ngā Ruahine, Taranaki, Te Ātiawa, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Hauā)

Books: Aroha & Wawata by Dr Hinemoa Elder 

These two books by Dr Hinemoa Elder are some of my favourites. They’re perfect for when you are short on time but in need of some wise words. Each book offers short 1-2 page explanations or applications of different whakataukī (proverbs), helping to incorporate Māori wisdom into everyday life. 

One of my favourites is from Aroha: “Poipoia te kākano kia pūāwai,” which translates to “Nurture the seed and it will bloom.” I return to this whakataukī often. Just as plants need nourishment to grow, so do all the aspects of our lives.

By nurturing your mind, heart, family and relationships, they too will grow and blossom. That blossom is the peak of the cycle, best appreciated when you can reflect on the hard work it took to get there. This whakataukī reminds me that no act is for nothing—that even small, seemingly insignificant (and sometimes tedious) steps, will eventually lead to growth in some part of my life.

Mukai Duder-Hura 

(Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi)

Book: Ka Whawhai Tonu Māori by Dr Ranginui Walker

Dr Ranginui Walker's 'Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou' is a pukapuka I keep coming back to, and each time it offers me something new.

As a historical text, it provides insights into our struggle as Māori for tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake on our own whenua. Dr Walker's writing connects past struggles to present-day challenges, making it not only educational but also a constant reminder of our people's resilience and resistance. Even though it was first published in 1990, it remains deeply relevant.

It continues to shape my understanding of our history and our unique identity as Māori, guiding me to reflect on how these struggles shape our present and future. From uni assignments, to pātai I might have randomly throughout the day, it's a text that never stops teaching me, and for that reason, it remains one of my favourite pukapuka to always refer back to.

Maia Berryman-Kamp 

(Te Arawa, Mataatua)

Book: Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka

First off: I’m Te Arawa hard so anytime our pūrākau are there, I’m sat. Fr fr though, Kurangaituku does what few books can actually pull off - narrative and structural harmony. There are 3 stories within the one pukapuka, the before, the after, and the during. They're readable in any order (though my favourite is the after section), and they work together with the writing to create a story that leans on trust, time, and belief. 

The writing is guttural at times of violence, but warm at times of solitude. The flow feels like oratory, not the written word, and the imagery is so rich you’ll reread it just to envision the scenes again.

It's often said that you cannot understand te ao Māori through English words—to anyone with this whakaaro, read this book and come back to me—Hereaka nails the feeling of hara, the embrace of the taiao, and the weight of whānau with unquestionably Māori grace.

Ngārewarewa Tata 

(Tainui, Mataatua)

Pukapuka: Te Marautanga o te Aho Matua

Ko te tino kaupapa o teenei pukapuka, he rauemi maa ngaa kaiako Kura Kaupapa Maaori hei haapai i taa raatou whakaako i ngaa maataapono o Te Aho Matua. Naa, ko teetahi o ngaa kaupapa kua waawaahia e te puka nei ko te hiitori o te Kura Kaupapa Maaori. I reira ka whakamaarama ai te pukapuka i ngaa tino toki i whakaairo, i whakaraakei, i whaoa te kaupapa nei e kiia nei ko te Kura Kaupapa Māori. Kua waawaahi te pukapuka nei i eetahi mahi maa ngaa tauira me ngaa kaiako kia taunaki i ia maataapono o Te Aho Matua. E tino rata ana au ki teenei pukapuka naa taku whakatipuranga i teetahi Kura Maaori, aa, e ngaakau whiwhita ana ki te reo Maaori me toona whakarauoratanga.

Ngahuia Benefield 

(Ngāti Toa Rangatira)

Book: Māori and the Criminal Justice System: He Whaipaanga Hou, a New Perspective by Dr Moana Jackson

Mā te tohunga whakairo anō e kōrero te whakairo

Mā te whakatō kai anō e kōrero te whakatō kai

The expert carver speaks with authority on carving

The expert gardener speaks with authority on gardening

This is the whakataukī (proverb) that Dr Moana Jackson used to open this report in 1987. It echoes the need for Māori research to be done within a Māori cultural framework—a by Māori, for Māori approach—it’s particularly pertinent as the report itself addresses the issues that Māori face within the Criminal Justice System. 

Although published in 1987, as the name states, it’s still a fresh and new perspective not often seen in Criminology. He Whaipaanga Hou shows how crime can be attributed to society’s actions and attitudes, and emphasises the importance of “[Enabling] the justice system to see itself through the eyes of the community from which most of its defendants come.” 

After discovering the book through my Criminology readings I found the report highly informative, intriguing, and inspirational.