Mauri: a picture book with a message of care for our taiao

Mauri

Merryn Jones 
Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White 
Translated by Kanapu Rangitauira

Stunning bilingual book shares a Māori world-view of care for our natural environment

‘Mauri’ means ‘spirit’, and spirit infuses Merryn Jones’ telling of how Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother) and Ranginui (the Sky Father) care for our natural environment.

As Papatūānuku awakens, Ranginui asks their divine children to bring the rain, sunshine, wind and moonlight she needs to give life to the forests and creatures.

One by one the children present their gifts to nourish the Earth, bringing forth life and harmony. 

When Papatūānuku tires of her work, Hine-nui-te-pō (Goddess of the night) wraps her in her arms, saying: ‘All things are joined together as one — Te kopunga tae noa ki te pu au’.

This gorgeous picture book is a vibrant collaboration between the Hawke’s Bay-based Merryn and and Wellington-based illustrator Isobel Te Aho-White, with translation by Kanapu Rangitauira of Rotorua. 

It goes on sale in all good bookstores this Thursday 22 October.

Author Merryn Jones says that 'Mauri is a love story to our environment, our taiao. This story uses a te ao Māori approach to explore the interconnectedness of the environment and the mauri (life force) of the land, rivers, sea and sky, and all those that dwell in those places.

'It is ultimately a story of hope for the Earth, while gently inviting us to be mindful that all life is dependent on how these precious connections are maintained.'

The author, illustrator and translator

Merryn Jones (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Pākehā) is a senior medical adviser who has a Diploma in Writing Stories for Childrenand is also a glass artist. In March 2026 Nightengale Books UK published her chapter book Spencer’s Speech, which tells about bravery, friendship and finding your voice She lives in Heretaunga/Hastings.

Isobel Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu, UK, Denmark) has won numerous awards for her illustration of children’s books, and authored her own first book in 2025. She lives in Te Whanganui-a Tara/Wellington.

Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea) is a registered translator and teacher of te reo Māori who has translated a number of Oratia’s children’s books. He lives with his whānau in Rotorua.

Publication Date: 22 October 2026 | ISBN: 9781990042966 | RRP $22.99 Paperback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages, colour

What caused the Musket Wars to engulf early nineteenth-century Aotearoa?

Trading Blows
What Drove the Musket Wars

Matthew Wright

‘Musket Wars’ may be the wrong name for era of conflict says new book that explores period’s social and economic drivers

During the first decades of the nineteenth century New Zealand was swept by inter-tribal warfare at an unprecedented scale, in a wave of fighting that became known as the Musket Wars.

But as eminent historian Matthew Wright writes in this gripping book, there were many factors besides muskets at play in these conflicts, which have profoundly shaped modern New Zealand.

Trading Blows explores the forces at work in this period, explaining why British industrial technologies led to widespread warfare and social disruption. 

He also explores the ways in which major war-era figures such as Hongi Hika and Te Rauparaha were not just military leaders but innovators, seizing the opportunities offered by new technology.

Incisively written, with helpful maps, this is an important contribution to historical writing about events that fundamentally shaped New Zealand physically and politically, feeding into the race relations and economic conditions of today.

The author 

Matthew Wright is the author of more than 60 books on topics ranging from history to science and engineering, for all ages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His books include Ernest Rutherford and the Birth of Modern Physics (Oratia Books and Scribe, 2025); the Bateman Illustrated History of New Zealand; Freyberg, a Life's Journey, the biography of Bernard Freyberg; and the popular introductory book The New Zealand Wars. Matthew lives in Wellington (see matthewwright.net).

Publication Date: 22 October 2026 | ISBN: 9781991353023 | RRP $45.00 Paperback, 240 x 160 mm, 224 pages, black and white

 

The forest that was, captured in paintings – The Passing of the Forest

The Passing of the Forest

Richard Wolfe

Distinguished cultural historian brings eye-opening reflections on deforestation through the lens of works by New Zealand and Australian artists

‘Although New Zealand was the last sizeable habitable landmass to be settled by humans … the impact on its native forest has been little short of dramatic.’

That upheaval, the radical changes to our landscape, and the consequences we live with today form the narrative of this handsome book of art and historical commentary.

Cultural and art historian Richard Wolfe profiles the clearing of native forests in a striking visual history through art, from the nineteenth century to today.

The Passing of the Forest explores how large areas of forests were burned by Māori, and then European settlers — lured to New Zealand by the promise of an inexhaustible supply of timber. 

The book draws parallels with colonisation in Australia, showing how deforestation has impacted on leading artists and thinkers, and explores ways forward to replace what has been lost.

Featuring more than 50 works by New Zealand and Australian artists in vivid colour reproductions, this book is a timely exploration of environmental loss and the human impact on New Zealand’s forests. 

Artists featured range from Charles Heaphy and Augustus Earle to Doris Lusk, Emily Karaka and Dick Frizzell.

The cover features a very recent 2025 work by Frizzell, who made this comment on The Passing of the Forest:

‘Purists tend to view prehistory New Zealand as one long forest, bristling like two gentleman’s hair brushes laid top to toe. Richard’s exhaustive research points out that the topography of the two islands simply couldn’t permit such a romantic view. Richard lays it all out: from destruction to reforestation. The myths and the truth.’ 

The author 

Richard Wolfe has written or co-authored some 40 books that document aspects of New Zealand's art, history, and popular culture, including Footprints on the Land (Oratia Books, 2022) and Kiwi: A Curious Case of National Identity (2024). A frequent contributor to Art New Zealand and other publications, he lives with his artist wife Pamela in Ponsonby, Auckland.

Publication Date: 8 October 2026 | ISBN: 9781991353054 | RRP $75.00 

Hardback, 280 x 210 mm, 220 pages, colour