Victory at Point 209 by Andrew Burdan

Brand new! This amazing graphic novel by Andrew Burdan tells of Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nuia-Kiwa Ngarimu, 28 Māori Battalion, and his last days fighting for our country.

"On 26 March 1943, two weeks before his 24th birthday, Ngarimu led an attack on Point 209, a vital hill at Tebaga Gap in Tunisia. Under intense mortar and machine gun-fire, he led the assault up the hill, personally destroying two German machine-gun posts on a crest of the hill. Despite being wounded twice during the night, he and his men defended their position from several counter-attacks.

The following morning during a particularly strong counter-attack, Ngarimu was killed. Later the same day, the Germans still on Point 209 surrendered.

An easy-to-read, accessible story and history, in Māori and English editions, with illustrations and maps telling the story along with the text makes it ideal for all boys 10+, especially those who have difficulty engaging with reading." Huia Publishers

Ngarimu was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and the decoration was presented to his parents in a huge ceremony held at Ruatōria on 6 October that year.

Watch the trailer on Youtube

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Victory at Point 209 by Andrew Burdan, 2012     

Also available in Te Reo Māori as Ngarimu : Te Tohu Toa

Maori Treasures of New Zealand: Ko Tawa

Maori Treasures of New Zealand honours the man who once carried the name Ko Tawa, Captain Gilbert Mair, and the many significant Maori tipuna ancestors-taonga-that entered his remarkable life.  Mair was careful in preserving an account of the history and circumstances surrounding many of the taonga in his collection, so that taonga and narrative illuminate each other. 

This work includes several references to the Hawke's Bay District with names and photographs of Taonga, affiliated iwi, maps, photographs and writings of taonga history. 

The section I found of particular interest is on page 47 Peka Makarini: Ngati Pahauwera (Mohaka-Wairoa), the Taonga Koauau flute made from the arm bone of Te Kooti buglar Baker McLean (Peka Makarini), who was shot and killed at Waikarawhiti near Tumunui by Mair in February 1870. 

The Koauau was presented to Mair by Ngati Pahauwera at Te Harato in 1874.  “Ko tenei koauau no te ringa katau o to matou ito- Peka Te Maakariri.  He tohu aroha no Nati pahauwera kit e tangata nana I ngaki te mate.  Nana I pare o matou mata”.  “This flute was formed out of the strong right arm bone of Baker MacLean.  A loving gift from Ngatipahauwera tribe to the man who avenged our wrongs and turned our faces from looking askant, to look straight in front!”

Ko Tawa the exhibition opened  in the Auckland War Memorial Museum 2005 to rave reviews, the book and website are easy to follow and very impressive, see  www.aucklandmuseum.com/90/ko-tawa and  http://tekakano.aucklandmuseum.com/am_kotawa/home_maori.asp

With photography by Krzysztof Pfeiffer and contributing essays from Ron Crosby, Jade Baker, Roger Neich, Merata Kawharu.  

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Maori Treasures of New Zealand by Paul Tapsell et al

The Parihaka Woman by Witi Ihimaera

An epic story of love and war, set in Taranaki in the 1870-80s.  It follows the orphan Erenora as she grows up amidst the turbulent events at Parihaka during the Land Wars.  The residents struggle to hold on to their land as six shipfuls of immigrants arrive in the area.  After their men are taken, Erenora and the other women search the length of New Zealand to find their husbands.  The author has used the real manuscript of a Parihaka survivor’s first hand account and produced a very good story.

Reviewed by Mary at the Young at Heart Bookclub May meeting, held at Havelock North Library.


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The Parihaka woman by Witi Ihimaera, 2011

Te Papa Tupu Writers Programme 2012

The Māori Literature Trust invites you to enter the Te Papa Tupu Writers Programme for 2012, a programme for nurturing talented Māori writers. The best six writers will be offered the opportunity to participate in a six month incubator programme where they will develop their writing into a solid piece of literature with the possibility of having it published.

The Trust is looking for people from all walks of life whot have a drive and passion to write. You can submit your work, in Te Reo Māori or English, in the following categories:

Novel

Short Story

Non-fiction

Children’s chapter book

Children’s picture book

Submitted work should be 5,000-50,000 words and may be a finished piece or a working manuscript.

For more information and to enter visit www.huia.co.nz or email tepapatupu@huia.co.nz

Entries close 5pm, Friday 12 June 2012. Entries received after the closing date will not be eligible.