Our first 10-Year Book Giveaway — Kura Toa: Warrior School, by Tim Tipene (2009)

Kura Toa: Warrior School  – Tim Tipene

The first giveaway to celebrate our 10 years of books is the first title Oratia published back in mid-2009: Tim Tipene’s Kura Toa: Warrior School. 

Haki, the hero of this young adult novel, is a high-school student who’s been going off the rails. With the guidance of his tribe, Haki finds his identity and grows into a warrior in defence of their land.

Click here to view the book.

Kura Toa had been previously published but was out of print when Tim agreed to us taking it on. Oratia committed to our authors to try and keep their books in print, and we’ve managed thanks in part to short-run digital printers in New Zealand. In fact the giveaway copy of Kura Toa is hot off the press from YourBooks in Wellington — the latest print run has just reached the Northcote warehouse of Publishers Distribution Ltd, our awesome distributors.

To be in to win a copy of Kura Toa: Warrior School go to our Fb Page.

Prize available to New Zealand residents only.

Competition closes on Monday 3 June, and winner announced on Tuesday 4 June.

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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.

Kura Toa stays the distance

The new Oratia Books edition of Tim Tipene's young adult novel Kura Toa Warrior School is out today.
The book was first published by Reed Books; in 2009 we reissued it under our Libro International imprint, and it has reprinted regularly ever since.

Tim's story of troubled high-school student Haki as he struggles to defend the rights of his tribe and grow into a warrior has really struck a chord with teenage readers. It's in demand as a set text in a number of high schools, as well as for general readers.

Long may Kura Toa remain available! For more detail, see the books page on the Oratia website.

Tim Tipene will be appearing the Storylines Northland Family Day in Kaitaia on Saturday 27 August; follow this link for more information.

Tim Tipene

Kura Toa at Bay of Islands College

An adaptation of Tim Tipene’s novel Kura Toa was performed at Bay of Islands College last week. The show that featured music and dancing drew large audiences and enthusiastic response. Tim Tipene was also there to support the kids and reports it being a wondeful experience. 

Read the article in the Northern Advocate newspaper.

photo by Peter de Graaf

Thursday 28 May 2009

The launch of the Kura Toa

warrior school, and the reissue

of Tim's book

Kura Toa Warrior School.

From left: author and Kura Toa Warrior School founder Tim Tipene, Reverend Owen Paikea, Mayor Bob Harvey, and Nimpo Dojo's Aotearoa Chief Instructor Travis Rapana.

Kura Toa is launched with an audience of over 100, young and old,

Oratia Media Managing Director Peter Dowling outlined the partnership with Tim Tipene for existing and future books.

Mayor of Waitakere Bob Harvey gave ringing support to the work Tim does with young people in the community.

Media Release

Media Release

Tim Tipene opens centre for Warrior Kids in Henderson and Titirangi publisher Libro International launches its publishing list

On Thursday 28 May Tim Tipene opens a new chapter in the story of his warrior kids programme: the new Kura Toa centre at Mihini Road, Henderson. The centre opening marks 15 years of Kura Toa and Warrior Kids in the community and schools of west Auckland. Tim is appreciative of the opportunity to have used his Toatoi warrior training to help turn around the lives of young people.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to have worked with thousands of children and their families in west Auckland,” Tim says. “Now that Kura Toa and Warrior Kids have their own space I’ll be able to continue that work and develop my Toatoi programmes further.”

Tim is a widely published author for children and young adults. His Kura Toa Warrior School (2004) is a stirring novel that follows the adolescent Haki as he rises to the challenge of becoming a warrior and serving his people.

Kura Toa also goes on sale once more from 28 May, brought back into print by publishers and consultants Oratia Media under their new Libro International books list. Established in 2008 by directors Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini, Libro International is dedicated to producing quality books with local authors and illustrators for a global readership. The book business is based in Titirangi’s Lopdell House.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Tim to keep his books available to readers and look forward to further publishing with Kura Toa,” said Peter Dowling, Libro International’s publisher.

Libro is publishing several other Waitakere-based books in 2009. In August comes Outrageous Fortune: The West Family Album, with South Pacific Pictures – billed as the ultimate read for fans of the award-winning TV drama. The next month will bring a highly illustrated hardback in the shape of The Iron-Bound Coast: Karekare in the Early Years, by Wallace Badham, edited by Bob Harvey.

On Thursday 28 May from 4–6 pm Tim Tipene and Oratia Media will be hosting a party to celebrate the launch of the Kura Toa warrior school, and the reissue of Tim's book Kura Toa: Warrior School. Please contact Tim Tipene or Alessandra Zecchini for further information and to arrange coverage and photos:

Tim Tipene Alessandra Zecchini

09 810 8268 09 814 8993

kuratoa@hotmail.com mailto:alessandro@oratiamedia.com

Kura Toa

ISBN 978-1-877514-02-9

Summary

A novel for young adults: Haki needs to find the pounamu that was stolen from him after a car crash. In his search he must confront his fears and find a way to answer the challenge to serve his people, his land, to fight a taniwha and to grow, ultimately becoming a warrior.

Author biography

Tim Tipene has written several books for children and received a Picture Book Honour Award in the 2006 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults with Haere, Farewell Jack Farewell. Tim is the leader of the Kura Toa/Warrior Kids warrior training programme for at-risk young people. He lives in Waitakere City and has two children.