Bilingual children's book showcases Samoa's all-important 'ava ceremony

Sauniga o le ‘Ava Samoa 
The ‘Ava Ceremony of Samoa

Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata
Illustrated by Ani Huia Ligaliga

The 'ava ceremony is at the heart of Samoan life, essential for marking important occasions and welcoming guests. 

In this bilingual book, in Gagana Samoa and English by orator and teacher Tauanu’u Sitagata, young readers can learn all about the ritual of exchange around the ‘ava drink (known as kava in other parts of the South Pacific.)

With beautiful illustrations by artist Ani Huia Ligaliga, Sauniga o le ‘Ava Samoa/The 'Ava Ceremony of Samoa outlines the steps in the ceremony and the roles of orators and participants. It explains the items used, food and etiquette of the ceremony, and presentations made between hosts and visitors. 

Drawing on his deep knowledge of fa’asamoa (the Samoan Way), Tauanu’u explains the sequence of making and serving ‘ava, including who does what, and objects used. 

The book concludes with the myth of the ‘ava plant’s origins, here for the first time in written form, with sensitive illustrations.

Co-published by Oratia Books and Auckland Council Libraries, this attractive picture book is releasing in time for Samoa Language Week (31 May–6 June). 

The Author and Illustrator

Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata teaches at McAuley High School in Ōtahuhu and the Centre for Pacific Languages in Manukau. He has received the National Excellence in Teaching Award for his achievements in teaching the Samoan language. His first book, Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa ma Uiga mo Tamaiti/Samoan Proverbs for Children, was published in 2025 and has already reprinted.

Ani Huia Ligaliga is a Māori artist and illustrator based in Hamilton. She illustrated Tauanu'u's previous work, Alagā'upu Fa'asamo ma Uiga mo Tamaiti/Samoan Proverbs for Children (Oratia Books, 2025), and her other published work includes The Ever-Standing Tree by Tim Tipene (Oratia Books, 2024).

Publication Date: 14 May 2026  |  ISBN: 9781991353078  |  RRP $21.00

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm, 32 pages, colour

Oratia Books Catalogue is out now with an array of reading for 2026

The new Oratia Books Catalogue 2026 is out now in print and digital form.

This year's cover features art from the forthcoming picture book Mauri, by Merryn Jones and illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. 

The catalogue showcases 15 new titles for 2026, three which are out in stores already – starting with Philippa Werry's Wild Life: An Animal History of Aotearoa, the latest in The NZ Series, which published in February and has already reprinted. 

Tangaroa Paul and Luca Tu'avao Walton's Rere Atu ki Poronihia/Flight to Polynesia published in March, while this month's release, Ron Crosby's Keep Calm — We Are Coming, has been gaining nationwide publicity. 

Later in the year will bring a fantastic addition to Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird's New Bum! Series, a further te reo Māori reference work by Hona Black, a sumptuous art book by Richard Wolfe and a new edition of classic myths and legends from the Pacific. 

Click here to read more or download the PDF, and to request a print copy please email info@oratia.co.nz

Keep Calm — We Are Coming

 

Keep Calm — We Are Coming
The NZSAS in action in Afghanistan, 2009–2021

Ron Crosby

A gripping account of New Zealand’s military elite in action in Afghanistan, told in their own words

This special book takes the reader on a rare tour behind the lines of the New Zealand Special Air Service during its time in Afghanistan, based on extensive interviews and research by author Ron Crosby.

Keep Calm —We Are Coming briefly backgrounds the NZSAS role with Coalition forces supporting the Afghan government, before focusing on four engagements where many lives were at risk.

While primarily training Afghan forces in Kabul, the Kiwis were called upon to respond to a series of ‘spectacular attacks’ by heavily-armed Taliban fighters wearing suicide vests and determined to inflict major casualties on civilians.

In the words of those who were there, Crosby tells how the NZSAS resolved three devastating attacks by terrorists in Kabul between 2009 and 2012 — at the Indian Guesthouse, Intercontinental Hotel and British Council.

The book then relates how the NZSAS returned to help evacuate New Zealanders from the chaos of Kabul Airport in 2021 as the Taliban took over.

This fast-paced book —illustrated with 32 pages of colour photos from the attacks and the airport – reveals how a courageous group of Kiwis saved hundreds of lives in extremely 

dangerous conditions.

Author Ron Crosby at the book's launch in Auckland

Keep Calm — We Are Coming is available in good booksellers nationwide, in time for Anzac Day 2026 commemorations.

The author

Ron Crosby is a well-known author of New Zealand history, including The Musket Wars, The Forgotten Wars, Te Kooti’s Last Foray and NZSAS: The First Fifty Years. He enjoyed a long career as a barrister, and was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal for 13 years. Resident in Blenheim, Ron has intermittently spent many years writing the current book; see www.roncrosby.co.nz.

Publication: 2 April 2026  |  ISBN: 9781990042997  |  RRP $45.00

Paperback with flaps, 240 x 160 mm portrait, 260 pages, 

b&w with 4 x 8-page colour sections

Oratia Books on the move to Upstart Distribution and Archetype Book Agents

From this Wednesday 1 April 2026, Upstart Distribution becomes the New Zealand distributor for Oratia Books titles, and sales representation moves to Archetype Book Agents. 

Based in Penrose, Auckland, Upstart Distribution is a highly regarded distributor of books for New Zealand publishers, and is led by legendary publishers Kevin Chapman and Pat Dunmore.

Archetype Book Agents, managed by industry stalwarts Neil Brown and Craig Gamble, has a network of respected sales agents across New Zealand. It represents many of the country’s leading publishers including Allen & Unwin and the university presses of Auckland, Massey, Te Herenga Waka and Otago. 

 

‘We look forward greatly to working with the talented Upstart and Archetype teams to take Oratia Books to readers throughout Aotearoa,’ commented Oratia Books’ publisher Peter Dowling. 

 

‘Our sincere appreciation to departing commissioned reps Gary Shannon, Dennis Morgan and Carol Kavanagh for their outstanding service to us over the years. All the best with your next chapters.

 

‘We also owe a debt of gratitude to our distributors since 2009, Bookreps NZ (previously Publishers Distribution Ltd) for their years of sterling work on our behalf.’ 

 

All orders for Oratia Books from April onwards should be directed to Upstart Distribution customer services: orders@upstartdist.nz, 09 280 3202. 

 

Look out for the Oratia Books Catalogue 2026, coming in April, for our growing list of new and backlist books. 

 

For any enquiries, please contact Peter (peter@oratia.co.nz) or Belinda Cooke, sales and marketing consultant (belinda@oratia.co.nz).

Second in Tangaroa Paul's picture-book series takes flight to Polynesia

Rere Atu ki Poronihia
Flight to Polynesia

Tangaroa Paul 
Illustrated by Luca Tu'avao Walton

We're delighted to share this new picture book that explores Pacific identity through its young hero’s trip to festival in Hawai’i

Tangaroa Paul’s first book Rere Atu Taku Poi! / Let My Poi Fly! has been a big hit, with a reprint, audiobook version and a stage adaptation springing from the picture book that published in early 2023.

In fact, Taki Rua Production's adaptation was named Production of the Year in the 2025 Performing Arts and Young People Awards. 

Now Tangaroa is back with a sequel in which the book's protagonist Rangi and his kapa haka group fly from Aotearoa to Hawai’i for a cultural festival.

While sharing the group’s culture with others from around the Pacific, Rangi makes friends with young people like him from Hawai’i, Sāmoa and Tonga, who combine male and female energy.

And so on with the show! Performances take the stage while in the background, Rangi ponders how Māori define gender and identity.

Written in Māori and English, with vivid illustrations by Tongan-Kiwi artist Luca Tu’avao Walton, Rere Atu ki Poronihia is an uplifting story that shares the cultures of Polynesia to young readers.

It is jointly published by Auckland Council Libraries and Oratia Books, and hits the bookshelves ahead of the Pasifika Festival 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau, with a free Teacher Resource available online.

The book's ending opens the path to the third book in the series — as we see Rangi on the plane home, reflecting on the friends he made in Hawai'i and what he has learned about gender identities in the Pacific. 

 

I te kōingo ia mēnā rānei he kupu Māori mōna?  

He wondered if there was kupu Māori for him, too?

The authors

Tangaroa Paul (Te Whare Tawhito o Muriwhenua), a poi expert who identifies as gender-fluid, is a lecturer in te reo Māori at the Auckland University of Technology, where they completed a doctorate in gender studies in 2023. Their books drawn on Tangaroa’s own experience as the first biological male to compete in the poi section of Te Matatini.

Luca Tu’avao Walton is an artist and animator who spent his early life in Tonga and now lives in Auckland. His art explores themes of femininity and representation in the Pacific context.

Publication: 10 March 2026  |  ISBN: 9781990042973  |  RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

Fascinating new NZ Series book details the history of animals in Aotearoa

The NZ Series 

Wild Life

An Animal History of Aotearoa

Philippa Werry

Entertaining account of New Zealand as lived by the animals broadens the wing span of The NZ Series 

Humans reached New Zealand about 1000 years ago, at which point animals had been here for several hundred million years. 

How was life before and after Māori and European arrival? What is unique about our species, how have they adapted over time and what is their future in a time of climate change? 

 

Award-winning author Philippa Werry takes the story back to Gondwanaland, looking at dinosaur life, the amazing tuatara, species evolutions over time and some of those that didn’t manage to survive, like the Haast’s eagle and huia. 

Coming to the modern era, the book surveys all aspects of animal life — from introduced pests, livestock and domestic pets to conservation efforts, zoos and animal celebrities like Shrek the sheep and Phar Lap.

This colourful ninth book in The NZ Series follows The Treaty of Waitangi, winner of the Margaret Mahy Supreme Book of the Year prize at the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

 

A free Teacher Resource for the book is available here.

The author

Philippa Werry is a writer of non-fiction and fiction for young readers. She has won numerous awards, including the Young Adult Fiction Award at the 2023 NZYCA Awards for her novel Iris and Me, and is well known for books on New Zealand society, including The NZ Series title New Zealand Migration (2023). She lives in Wellington (www.philippawerry.co.nz).

Publication: 10 February 2026  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004298-0  |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 240 x 160 mm portrait, 100 pages, colour