Wi Pere Book Launch; Rongopai Marae, Patutahi, Gisborne Friday 19 November 2010;

A great occasion in Gisborne on Friday 19 November, with the launch Libro International's newest book, Wiremu Pere: The Life and Times of a Maori Leader, 1837–1915. It was an honour to be there with the descendants of Wi Pere to celebrate their tupuna at the beautiful Rongopai marae.

Among the distinguished guests and speakers present was the Hon Tariana Turia, co-leader of the Maori Party, who opened her speech describing Wi Pere as “a remarkable man, a man of mana, a man well before his time.”

You can read her full speech by clicking here.

A most memorable oration was given by Rose Pere, speaking for herself and her husband, the author Joe Pere. Among other speakers were Lewis Moeau, Maori Advisor to the Prime Minister, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon, Wi Pere Trust Chairman Alan Haronga, and Wi Pere Trustee Kingi Smiler.

Rose Pere signing a copy of the book for Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon.

At the reception for the book Wiremu Pere

From the Gisborne Herald Saturday 20 November

Wiremu Pere: The Life and Times of a Maori Leader, 1837–1915

RRP $90.00

Jacketed hardback, 240 x 180 mm, 440 pp, includes foldout deed and maps

Available from good bookstores, or from Publishers Distribution Limited,

tel: 09 828 2999 fax: 09 828 2399 email: orders@pubdist.co.nz

ISBN 978-1-877514-09-8

Links:

Gisborne Herald 16 November: to read the article click here

Beattie's Book Blog, click here

We Pere Trust, click here

Wiremu Pere The Life and Times of a Maori Leader, 1837–1915

Libro International is proud to publish Wiremu Pere: The Life and Times of a Maori Leader, 1837–1915, the first biography of the seminal politician Wi Pere - a man caught between two worlds, struggling to preserve the Maori way of life and advance his tribes on the North Island's East Coast as colonisation gained pace.

Link to Wi Pere trust:

http://www.wipere.co.nz/wipere.htm

Wiremu Pere

The Life and Times of a Maori Leader,

1837–1915

by Joseph Anaru Te Kani Pere & others

A rangatira in times of change …

Wi Pere lived through some of the most turbulent chapters in New Zealand history. As a leader of his Rongowhakaata and Te Aitanga a Mahaki tribes, he stood resolute during the tidal wave of change that threatened the Maori way of life, and went on in 1884 to become one of the first Maori leaders in Parliament.

This handsomely produced book describes Wi Pere’s eventful life and those who influenced him. Other parts trace his whakapapa back to ancient rangatira lines, and profile the Wi Pere Trust, one of his legacies that continues to prosper and grow today.

Wiremu Pere will appeal to all those who are students of Maori and political history as well as readers interested in the colourful life of this extraordinary leader.

The Author:

Joseph Anaru Te Kani Pere, a great-grandson of Wi Pere, took over the writing of the book from earlier family members. A former teacher, he has a doctorate in English from the University of Waikato. After extensive research and writing, he has brought the work to completion with the support of the Wi Pere Trust.

Release Date: 19 November 2010 | RRP $90.00

Jacketed hardback, 240 x 180 mm, 440 pp, includes foldout deed and maps

For a review copy, please contact:

Peter Dowling, 027 614 8993, 09 814 8993, peter@oratiamedia.com

Libro International | ISBN: 978-1-877514-09-8 www.oratiamedia.com

Publishers Association of New Zealand Featured Member: Peter Dowling Oratia Media

Featured Member: Peter Dowling Oratia MediaAddressing industry peers from around the world was a highlight of the 2010 Frankfurt Book Fair for independent publisher Oratia Media. The Waitakere-based company’s Managing Director Peter Dowling took the stage in an Australasian panel discussion that helped profile New Zealand books to the global flock at this year’s essential book event. But there were other milestones, including breaking through to get invited to the Italian Publishers Association cocktail. “We’ve been working all year to get on the radar of Italian publishers so the networking at Frankfurt was unbelievably valuable – even if the New Zealand stand put on a much better party!” Connecting New Zealand with the world is a key part of the vision for Libro International, the books imprint launched in 2009.

Read the full story on the Publishers Association of New Zealand website

Outrageous Fortune - And So It Concludes

Tonight sees the culmination of six series of Outrageous Fortune - in an episode entitled Tis So Concluded.

Over the past six years the West family and their associates have become part of the fabric of daily life for New Zealanders, and we'll miss them being on TV. Just as well there are DVDs and our book, Outrageous Fortune: The West Family Album.

Limited stocks of the book are still available. Be in to get yours now from booksellers or via the official website www.outrageousfortune.co.nz

From Silence to Voice

Libro International is proud to publish From Silence to Voice: The Rise of Maori Literature, by Paola Della Valle.

Paola Della Valle provides an accessible account of how writers like Patricia Grace and Witi Ihimaera established a Maori voice in literature, with a close analysis of many of the key texts in modern Maori writing.