Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Urban Māori launch starts the day at Parliament

Hon Willie Jackson hosts the Urban Māori launch











   


  




WELLINGTON. A breakfast event at Parliament this set a rousing launchpad for Urban Māori, the history of Māori migration and adaptation to the cities written by Bradford Haami.

The Hon Willie Jackson, Minister of Employment and Associate Minister of Māori Development, hosted the event for Te Whānau o Waipareira, which commissioned Oratia to publish the work.
MP Peeni Henare welcomed the telling of this chapter in Māori history
Labour Party Deputy Leader Hon Kelvin Davis was among a host of MPs in attendance (including Minister of Defence Hon Ron Mark, Hon Peeni Henare and Rino Tirakatene of Labour, and National’s Arts and Culture Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith).
Waipareira Chair Ray Hall said the Trust had long felt such a book was needed
Ray Hall, Chair of Te Whānau o Waipareira, and CEO John Tamihere, both paid tribute to the struggles of those who had gone before to establish urban communities as the proportion of Māori living in the cities mushroomed from under 20% before World War to over 90% in the post-war decades.

John Tamihere (left) with Brian Easton, author of the
forthcoming Heke Tangata
Tamihere looked forward to the May release of Heke Tangata, this book’s companion publication – an economic analysis of Māori migration and post-war economic performance by Brian Easton.

Minister Jackson reflected that despite the apparent tensions between iwi and urban identity, most Māori today are at home in both worlds – it is just that resources are not yet equally distributed to the urban communities.

Bradford Haami spoke of his desire to record the real experiences of ordinary whānau, telling the on the ground story of those who moved to the cities in search of work, opportunities and entertainment.
Author Bradford Haami (left) with fellow author and broadcaster Paul Diamond
 Speakers all shared their hope that a new generation of confident, Reo-speaking urban Māori would carry on the work of pioneer leaders like June Mariu, June Jackson and Hoani Waititi.

Oratia is privileged to have been a part of this kaupapa. Our appreciation to John and the team at Te Whānau o Waipareira for making it possible and to Hon Willie Jackson for hosting today's events. 

Thanks also to Brad for his brilliant research and storytelling, and to our editorial squad of Anna Fomison, Carolyn Lagahetau and Frances Chan for seeing the concept into a fine-looking publication. 

Urban Māori is available from all good booksellers.

Urban Māori: The Second Great Migration |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-28-5  |  RRP $39.99
Paperback with flaps, 234 x 153 mm, 304 pages b&w




Friday, February 23, 2018

Oratia shortlisted for Best Children's Publishers of the Year, Oceania


It's a nice surprise to receive news that Oratia Books has been nominated in the Oceania section for the Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year, alongside four very worthy nominees.

The BOP Prize is awarded each year to highlight the editorial projects, professional skills and intellectual qualities of work produced by publishing houses all over the world. It aims to foster the mutual exchange of knowledge and culture between different nations.

Six prizes are awarded by geographical area. Oratia joins fellow New Zealand publisher OneTree House, and Australian publishers Magadala Books, Scribble Kids Books and Windy Hollow Books, on the shortlist for Oceania. Click here to see the full shortlists.

The award will be decided by votes from exhibitors attending the Bologna Children's Book Fair from 26–29 March 2018.


Children's books make up approximately 40% of our annual publication list, with a focus on evocative picture books, Māori culture and, increasingly, non-fiction for children and young adults.

Carolyn Lagahetau, Editorial Director
As Publisher, I'd like to give credit for this nomination to Carolyn Lagahetau, Editorial Director of Oratia Media and a long-time champion of children's literature in New Zealand.

Carolyn's guiding hand, author relations and professionalism have given rise to a collection of books that are fun, informative and produced to the highest standards.

Our appreciation to the Bologna Children's Book Fair for this honour. The winners will be announced at the official opening of the fair — the world's premiere gathering of children's books — in Bologna, Italy on Monday 26 March.

— Peter Dowling, Publisher, Oratia Books

Exhibitors can get to vote through a link to the book fair website:
Express your vote on the reserved area at this link
Please log in using your Exhibitor username and password and choose your candidates.
Do not forget, you will be able to choose only one candidate for each geographical area.
Please take note that the poll service is available until March 8th 2018.


Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Plaudits continue for The Camera in the Crowd

There’s been no let-up in the positive reception to Christopher Pugsley’s major work on the early years of film in New Zealand.

Russell Baillie’s review in the Listener summarises The Camera in the Crowd in an informed and readable summary:

For Newshub, Tony Wright picked up on some of the key First World War footage featured in the book, filmed by Henry Armytage Sanders:

And reviewing the book for Radio Southland, Terry Toner described it as “a mighty gift to the country!!”.

A key element of the book is the linkages it provides to the actual film, much of which can be viewed on the website of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, the national film and sound archive in Wellington. 

Photos and text are part of the Ngā Taonga home page:

Christopher Pugsley will be talking about the book and sharing imagery with Chris Bourke at the Writers and Readers Festival in Wellington on 11 March:

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