Major tribal histories and carving book make a welcome return

Today we are proud to be bringing back to print three major works of Māori history and art under the Oratia Books brand. 

Horouta: The History of the Horouta Canoe, Gisborne and East Coast is a monumental, deluxe work that relates centuries of history for the peoples of the East Coast region, with many detailed maps and whakapapa (genealogical charts). 

Takitimu: A History of Ngati Kahungunu also spans centuries of pre-European settlement and post-Contact interaction for Ngati Kahungunu, the main iwi (tribe) of the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa regions (and the third most populous iwi in the country). 

Te Toi Whakairo: The Art of Maori Carving is an abundantly illustrated overview of this quintessential art form, written by distinguished academic Sir Hirini Moko Mead. This informative volume remains one of the key reference books on woodcarving. 

All three works are part of a promotion of Māori books in selected bookstores, alongside the June publication Ngā Atua: Māori Gods (click here for more) and Scotty Te Manahau Morrison's superb Te Reo translation of Paul Tapsell's Pūkaki (to be published on 12 September).

Mauri ora!

Publication Date: 20 July 2017
Horouta: ISBN: 978-0-947506-20-9 |  RRP $120

Jacketed hardback, 280 x 210 mm, 496 pages

Takitimu: ISBN: 978-0-947506-21-6 |  RRP $80

Jacketed hardback, 240 x 150 mm, 312 pages

Te Toi Whakairo: ISBN: 978-0-947506-37-7 |  RRP $49.99

Paperback with flaps, 242 x 182 mm, 276 pages

Takitimu: A History of Ngati Kahungunu

Takitimu

A History of Ngati Kahungunu

J.H. Mitchell

Handsome new edition of major tribal history

is available from tomorrow

One of the pillars of Maori tribal history will be published tomorrow in a new hardback edition.

Takitimu, which was originally published in 1944, tells the story of the Takitimu canoe’s migration from the Pacific Islands to Aotearoa, and of the descendants born in New Zealand who became Ngati Kahungunu – the peoples centred around the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa who now make up New Zealand’s third-largest iwi.

Author J.H. Mitchell (Tiaki Hikawera Mitira) died shortly after Takitimu was released, and bequeathed royalties from the work towards a scholarship for graduating students at Wairoa College.

Libro International publisher Peter Dowling worked with the trustees of the J.H. Mitchell Takitimu Memorial Scholarship Trust, led by Wairoa’s Deputy Mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare, on the new edition – and will continue to pay royalties to the scholarship fund.

The 2014 book is a facsimile edition that preserves the original contents, with the quality hardback binding and a brilliant new jacket that befit a work of this mana.

Takitimu will keep this important history available to a new generation of descendants. It is available through all good booksellers nationwide.

Release Date: 23 October 2014  |  ISBN: 978-1-877514-72  |  RRP $80

Hardback, 240 x 150 mm, 312 pages, b&w with photo and whakapapa sections

To arrange an interview with Denise, images or a review copy, contact:

Peter Dowling   027 614 8993 or peter@oratiamedia.com

Libro International, a division of Oratia Media

www.librointernational.com   |    www.oratiamedia.com