Telling the huia bird's touching story in te Reo and English for young readers

12 huia birds greet a new day …

Tekau mā rua manu huia hei mihi ke te rā hou …

First published in a hardback edition in 2016, this beautifully illustrated story about the huia and its tragic extinction is out in bookstores tomorrow in a bilingual (English and Māori) paperback. 

Translated by Lois McIver with Kanapu Rangitauira, the rhyming text starts with 12 huia birds living in the forest as they always have — until one day a waka appears on the horizon. 

Māori settlers bring their weapons, rats and dogs, and European settlers who follow centuries later add to the pressure on the poor huia. One by one they start to disappear — what will remain?

Through its gentle rhyme and colourful imagery, 12 Huia Birds / 12 Manu Huia shares an environmental message – and includes links to an app, educational resources and games.

The Listener named the previous edition as one of its best children’s books of 2016, and called it: “A striking reminder of the many ways this beautiful bird was wiped out.” 

Author Julian Stokoe with the new book

The authors

Julian Stokoe is a mixed media and animation director who has worked widely in TV and design. He is director of mobile media developer Yoozoo. Julian lives with his wife and family in Laingholm, Auckland.

Stacy Eyles (Ngāti Porou) is an art director, artist, and award-winning illustrator based in Wellington. He produces work in many different media, ranging from canvas and murals to clothing and television.

Publication: 14 July 2020  |  RRP $22.99  |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-78-0

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages, colour

12 Huia Birds in fine voice at Audiobooks NZ

How cool to see the audiobook version of Julian Stokoe and Stacy Eyle's 12 Huia Birds now online.

West Auckland start-up Audiobooks NZ has published a beautifully recorded audio version of the book by renowned actor George Henare.

Click here for the Audiobooks NZ listing of 12 Huia Birds.

Congrats to Theo Gibson and his team for offering a complement to the hardback book published by Oratia.

Almost a year since the book came out, the huia birds are in fine voice.

12 Huia Birds takes flight tomorrow

A new book that celebrates the life and disappearance of one of New Zealand’s most distinctive birds hits the bookstores tomorrow.

12 Huia Birds uses gentle rhyme and striking imagery to track the bird’s story, counting down from 12 birds playing in the forest, through a steady decline caused by humans and pests, until the last huia flies off into the sky.

Writer and animator Julian Stokoe and illustrator Stacy Eyles originally created the story as an app for Yoozoo Books, aiming to could teach children the huia’s story and help them understand something of New Zealand’s delicate ecology.

The book subtly conveys an environmental message, and is a celebration rather than a lament – for as it concludes, huia birds are

alive and well

in paintings, songs

and stories we tell.

And although it has now vanished, the huia is by no means forgotten – witness a recent cameo appearance in the hit film Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

12 Huia Birds comes in a lovely hardback edition suitable for children of all ages.

            With orange cheeks and funny-shaped beaks

            They were a beautiful sight to be heard …

Author Julian Stokoe with his tribute to the huia

12 Huia Birds  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-12-4  |  RRP $24.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages colour