Out for Niue Language Week, a new book showcases all things Niuean

Moana Oceania Series: Niue

Mele Nemaia

One of the world’s smallest nations, with a deep connection to Aotearoa and also to Tonga, Niue is a fascinating place. 

In this, the newest addition to the striking Moana Oceania series, esteemed educator Mele Nemaia introduces this unique island nation in English and Vagahau Niue (Niuean language).

The book makes available information for students or visitors, or anyone interested in our Pacific magafaoa (family).

Moana Oceania: Niue offers insights into society, geography, arts, history, sports and more, accompanied by many colour photos, illustrations and maps.

Readers will learn about daily life in Niue, the values of its people, and how families live and celebrate. A section is dedicated to Niueans in New Zealand and how they maintain their culture here.

Moana Oceania series editor Carolyn Lagahetau, who is of Niuean descent, says the book aims to help sustain the language and culture of the island. 

It is out in all good bookstores and libraries ahead of Niuean Language Week from 19–25 October, and we hope to find distribution in Niue soon.

Publication of Moana Oceania: Niue was greatly assisted by a 2024 Contestable Fund Grant by Copyright Licensing New Zealand.

 

The author

Mele Fakatali Nemaia MNZM is a community organiser and educator. She worked as a senior teacher at Favona Primary School in Auckland for decades and is now resident in Niue. Mele has co-authored several books for children in Niuean, taught after-school Niuean language classes and supported the ‘Achieving Through Pasifika Language’ programme in Auckland.  

Publication Date: 13 October 2025 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004271-3 |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

Photo-packed introduction to the people, culture and identity of Fiji arrives in new bilingual book

Moana Oceania Series: Fiji - Viti
Tarisi Vunidilo

Despite Fiji being among the largest Pacific Island nations, there is a dearth of good books about the country in print. 

 

This fourth volume in the Moana Oceania Series aims to address that situation with highly illustrated text in English and Fijian.

 

Fijian–New Zealand educator Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the people, culture and identity of her homeland in simple terms in the colourful and informative Moana Oceania: Fiji - Viti.

 

The bilingual text offers insights into society, geography, legends, arts, history and language — outlining the values of Fiji’s people, and how families live and celebrate life. 

 

A section is dedicated to the more than 20,000 Fijians who live in New Zealand and how they remain connected to their culture.

The striking design with info boxes, colour photos, illustrations and maps make Fiji – Viti  fun to read — and it’s easy to relate the English to the Fijian text.

This and other books in the series are contributing to the use of indigenous languages: Fiji – Viti will hit the bookstores just before Fiji Day (the national day, on 10 October) and during Macawa ni Vosa VakaViti – Fijian Language Week, which runs from 6–12 October 2024. 

 

The author

Tarisi Vunidilo is a Fijian-New Zealand archaeologist and curator who specialises in indigenous museum and heritage management. Born in Suva, Fiji she has taught at universities in New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii. She is currently an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles, and hosts the Talanoa with Dr T society and culture website.  

Publication Date: 10 October 2024 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004240-9 |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

Bilingual books on Cook Islands–Kūki 'Airani and Sāmoa launch the new Moana Oceania Series

MOANA OCEANIA SERIES

COOK ISLANDS – KŪKI 'AIRANI

Jean Te Kura Mason

SĀMOA

Dahlia Malaeulu

Translated by Tapaau Auvaa

 

Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airani : Jean Tekura Mason

Sāmoa : Dahlia Malaeulu

First two books in bilingual series by Pasifika authors and 

editors introducing the culture and landscapes of Polynesia 

Oratia Books is proud to announce a new series to bring bilingual reading about the South Pacific to children in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

Devised and delivered by Carolyn Lagahetau, Oratia’s Niuean-Kiwi editorial director, the Moana Oceania Series aims to address the lack of good reading materials about the South Pacific not only in English but also in local languages.

The non-fiction books that kick off the series provide an introduction to two Polynesian island nations, aimed at for readers aged 8 and over but accessible by all ages, and produced by Pasifika creatives.

Rarotonga-based author Jean Tekura Mason wrote both the English and Cook Islands Māori text of Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airani to outline key aspects of life, culture and history in her country. 

 

This colourful paperback sets out the seven pillars of life in the Cook Islands, with concise text on key aspects of the nation including education, language, history, environment, art, sport and culture.

One focus of this and Sāmoa is how Pasifika peoples maintain and adapt their culture living in Aotearoa. 

 

Sāmoa author Dahlia Malaeulu provides a comprehensive overview of life for Samoans in the islands and in New Zealand, with her English text translated into Gagana Samoa by Tapaau Auvaa (the book includes a section on language basics).

An important feature is its explanation of Fa’asāmoa, the fundamental values of Samoan life, including connection to ‘āiga (family), nu’u (village), land and religion. 

 

Illustrated with full colour photographs and illustrations throughout,  and numerous boxes of information to make the text easy to access,  these first entries in the Moana Oceania Series bring the South Pacific closer to all of us.

The books are on sale from 15 February at good booksellers around New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Sāmoa.

 

The authors

Jean Tekura Mason (Ngāti Nurau, Ngāti Teakatauira) has been the curator and manager at the Cook Islands Library & Museum Society since 2005, and was formerly an officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. She is particularly interested in the arts, folklore and Māori etymology of the Cook Islands. Also a noted poet, Jean lives in Rarotonga.

Dahlia Malaeulu is a passionate educator and strong advocate for Pasifika children’s literature. She is an award-winning author and publisher of  Mila’s Books, which creates quality stories that reflect Pasifika children’s lives. Dahlia recently won the Creative NZ Pasifika Arts Emerging Artists award. She lives with her family in Wainuiomata, Wellington.

Publication: 15 February 2023  |  RRP $29.99

ISBN: (Cook Islands) 978-1-99-004221-8  (Sāmoa) 978-1-99-004222-5

 Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

 

Oratia makes commitment to diversity and inclusion through new policy

Oratia Media is starting off 2021 by making a firm commitment to representing diversity in its publishing, personnel and vision.

That is embodied in this policy statement.

ORATIA MEDIA

Diversity Policy

OUR VISION

To be a diverse and inclusive publisher with no barriers to entry for anyone regardless of their background or identity.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Oratia will respect:

·      the central role of the Treaty of Waitangi, respecting Māori as tangata whenua

·      the role of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa

·      the diverse cultures of Aotearoa New Zealand

·      the principle of equal access and opportunity for people of all cultures, ages, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and religions

This initiative follows our participation in a series of Diversity and Publishing workshops organised by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) between September and December 2020. 

Diversity specialist Anton Blank of Oranui led those workshops and helped participants to develop policy and tools that will help book publishers to give equal access and value to all sectors of society in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Anton Blank of Oranui, which focuses on generating debate about diversity and giving people skills to deal with a diverse range of population groups

Along with Anton, and Alex Collins and Mish Wickremesekera of Lift Education, Carolyn Lagahetau and Peter Dowling of Oratia sit on PANZ's diversity subcommittee. 

Together they have developed policy and training for PANZ, and this is now extending to members.

We are firmly committed to books and workplaces that represent people of all backgrounds, and aim to carry that through into our future publishing, starting from respect for the Treaty of Waitangi. 

 

Oratia Media Celebrates 20 Years Today

Today marks 20 years since Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini incorporated Oratia Media as a company.

Still going strong two decades on, our small company has changed and grown, while remaining grounded in the ngahere (forest) near the upper end of West Coast Road, Oratia, in the mighty Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. 

Above all today offers the chance to thank our many clients, readers, collaborators, staff, contractors, family and supporters.  

The original logo: image designed by Alessandra, text by Myong-ok Kim

While publishing has been a core part of what we’ve always done, we chose the name ‘Media’ to reflect our pursuit of different activities (it also sounded good alongside ‘Oratia’!).

At establishment, that involved Alessandra teaching language and culture at the Dante Alighieri Italian Society of Auckland, running cooking classes and contributing food and travel articles to publications in New Zealand, Italy and Japan. 

Food styling with models Patricia Greig and Arantxa Zecchini Dowling (top) and photographer Shaun Cato-Symonds (bottom left)

Peter was then editor-at-large for Tokyo publisher Kozo System, editor and correspondent for Reed Business Information of London, and senior editor on contact to Reed Publishing (NZ) in Birkenhead. 

In 2002 Peter joined Reed NZ full-time as managing editor, later becoming publishing manager until the company’s sale in late 2007.

Over that time Alessandra ramped up her recipe development and food-styling activities, became a regular contributor to magazines including Cuisine, NZ House and Garden and NZ Gardener, launched her first two cookbooks with New Holland Publishers, and created the Festival Italiano through the Dante Society.

Alessandra at the Festival Italiano 2018, received the Ordine della Stella D'Italian honour from Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli for her services to promoting Italian culture internationally

From 2008 we have worked exclusively through Oratia, with 2009 marking the launch of the company’s own book list, initially under the Libro International brand and since 2016 as Oratia Books. Over that time we’ve published close on 150 books (both our own and for others), while writing and editing several million words in articles, books and reports around the world. 

Our first major commissioned book, the late Graeme Hunt's history of St John in New Zealand, 2009

None of this would have been possible without our clients (for details see https://www.oratia.co.nz/services/), or talented authors and illustrators (thank you to everyone listed at https://www.oratia.co.nz/authors/). Then there are the brilliant booksellers, librarians and teachers who support us, and our fine team of regular and freelance professionals. 

Among the ‘Oratia family’ our heartfelt thanks to Editorial Director Carolyn Lagahetau, who has been a key player since 2008, and to Marketing Consultant Belinda Cooke for her exceptional contribution since 2015.

Taking life seriously with our dream team, from left: designer Cheryl Smith, marketing supremo Belinda Cooke, illustrator Ross Kinnaird, editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau, author Dawn McMillan and Peter

Without wishing to omit anyone, special appreciation to designer Cheryl Smith of Macarn Design and more recently Sarah Elworthy; former marketing manager Isabell Zitzelsberger; editors Mike Bradstock, Susan Brierley, Frances Chan and Patricia Greig; sales reps Jeremy Bliss, Peter Gray, Dennis Morgan and Gary Shannon; Marie Edwards, Toni Hayman, Sue Kellett and team at our distributors Publishers Distribution Ltd; and web designers Isra Salcedo (Humilde Servidor) and Daisuke Hirata (Box Media). 

Carolyn Lagahetau with the late Graeme Leather

And we remember those who are no longer with us: the beloved designer and editor Graeme Leather, sales supremo Paul Greenberg, and authors Trixie Harvey, Graeme Hunt, Gavin McLean, Don Stafford and Pā Henare Tate.

The late Pā Henare Tate (right) with Sister Magdalen Sheahan (centre) receiving the Māori Book Award for his He Puna Iti i te Ao Mārama in 2013

Author Malcolm Paterson with son Davin at the Going West Writers Festival 2016

Student volunteer Coline Rouge promoting our books at the IBBY World Congress in Auckland, 2016

Internationally we count on some fine distributors: thanks to Charles Goulding at John Reed Books (Australia), Joel Cosseboom and Royden Muranaka at University of Hawai’i Press (North America) and Melanie Warren and team at Gazelle Book Services in Lancaster (UK and Europe). Chris Shaw and the crew at Book Systems International get the books from our printers and out to book fairs.

Sub-agents like Fanny Yu at CA-Link in Beijing, Anna Spadolini and her agency in Milan, and Pablo de la Vega at Base Tres in Guadalajara help us reach many markets. 

Peter managing the first-ever New Zealand stand at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, 2017, with assistant Claudia Esqueda

Voluntary and community activities are an important part of Oratia’s culture, with long-standing commitments to the Dante Society, Slowfood Auckland, Te Potiki National Trust (Māori Maps), Oratia District School, Storylines Children’s Literature Foundation and the Publishers Association of New Zealand. 

Paora Tapsell, chair of Te Potiki National Trust, presenting the trust's annual Hawea Vercoe Memorial Scholarship to Ihaka Wilson at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Rotoiti, September 2019

And to mark the 20^th anniversary, we’ve just agreed new, ongoing sponsorships of the Native Forest Restoration Trust and Outward Bound NZ.

It’s a privilege to be here still after two decades doing the work we love from a place we love. Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou kātoa i tautoko I a Oratia i ēnei tau i mua, ā, ka mahi ngatahi tonu ā muri ake nei. Grazie e arrivederci al 2040!

Oratia shortlisted for 2020 BOP Bologna Prize, Best Children's Publisher in Oceania

Covid-19 may have caused the cancellation of this year's Bologna Children's Book Fair but the show goes on, with a virtual fair and rights exchange starting online from 4 May — and a continuation of its prestigious prizes.

It's thus a thrill to see Oratia Books shortlisted in the Oceania section of the BOP – Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year.

The prize is described as “an extraordinary occasion to highlight publishers at the forefront of innovation in their activity for the creative nature of the editorial choices they have made during the previous year.”

Six prizes are awarded by geographical area. This year Wellington's Huia Publishers is shortlisted with Oratia in the Oceania section, alongside three Australian publishers. 

Click here to see all the regional shortlists.

Exhibitors who were to take part in the 2020 fair are able to vote for their favourites in the award in the next ten days. 

Winners will be announced online on 4 May. 

Books from shortlisted publishers including Oratia on display at Bologna in 2018

Congratulations to the team who make our children's book shine, led by Editorial Director Carolyn Lagahetau, with designers Cheryl Smith and Sarah Elworthy.

Thank you to the talented children's authors and illustrators whose new books we published in 2019: Trish Bowles, Melanie Drewery, Tracy Duncan, Gordon Ell, Sarah Ell, Darryn Joseph, Ross Kinnaird, Dawn McMillan and Munro Te Whata.

And a special note of appreciation to Elena Pasoli and her amazing team at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, who have worked incredibly hard during the terrible days of epidemic in Northern Italy to ensure the spirit of the fair lives online. Siamo con voi!

— Peter Dowling, Publisher, Oratia Books

Celebrating 10 years of books from Oratia

It was in May 2009 that Oratia Media launched the first book under its Libro International imprint — a new edition of Tim Tipene’s junior novel Kura Toa: Warrior School. 

Ten years on, Kura Toa remains in print, like almost all the 80 books Oratia has now published. In 2016, the imprint name changed to Oratia Books, better to reflect our roots in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges.

Founded in 2000 by Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini, Oratia was primarily a publishing services company with global clients including Reed Publishing NZ, where Peter had become publishing manager.

‘After Reed was taken over in 2007, editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau and I continued our relationship with Reed authors, many of whom were ready to work with an independent publisher,’ Peter recalled. 

            The first four books from 2009

‘In 2009 we tested the waters with short runs of Tim’s novel and Jeff Evan’s Nga Waka o Nehera, then jumped right in with two big new books in Outrageous Fortune and The Iron-Bound Coast.’

All four books in that first year were from a West Auckland stable, and the link to Waitakere creativity remains strong — as does a commitment to market the books worldwide through distribution, rights sales and presence at international book fairs.

Children’s books, Māoritanga and local non-fiction (especially history) form the majority of the books published to date, and Oratia Media continues to offer publishing and management services.

Oratia's 2019 catalogue; click here to view

‘In 2019 Oratia will publish 11 new books, from large pictorial hardbacks to a new non-fiction series for young adults,’ said Belinda Cooke, who joined Oratia part-time as sales & marketing consultant in 2016.

The Oratia team (pictured from left Alessandra, Belinda, Carolyn and Peter) join with their friends from the past decade to celebrate this milestone and look forward to a solid future in publishing.