Māori role models: inspirational korero from inspirational Māori

A NZ Fire Service staff member has produced a book aimed at rangatahi - “Māori role models: inspirational korero from inspirational Māori”. It grew out of his work as Poutakawaenga Maori/Maori Liaison Officer for the NZFS.

The book is in a question and answer format, and all the questions have been asked by rangatahi. It is written in both English and Te Reo Māori.

The Role Models include:
1. Patricia Grace - Writer
2. Wynton Rufer - Footballer, F.I.F.A ambassador.
3. Tariana Turia - Politician, Minister in Cabinet.
4. Ocean Mercier - Scientist/University Lecturer
5. Adam Whauwhau - Musician/Teacher.
6. Julian Wilcox - TV presenter.
7. Anika Moa - Musician.
8. Farah Palmer - Black Ferns Rugby Captain/ University Lecturer.
9. Darcy Nicholas - Artist
10. Bentham Ohia - C.E.O Te Whare Wananga o Aotearoa.

The cost is $20 per book. The proceeds go to Te Kiko Charitable Trust, and go towards producing another volume. The Trust vision is to "Uplift the Wellbeing of Māori Whānau".

To purchase copies, contact Te Aorangi Harrington tekiko@hotmail.co.nz

Te reo graphic novel from Huia featuring John Pohe, WWII pilot...

Hautipua Rererangi
This fantastic brand new book in "graphic novel" format tells the story of John Porokoru Pohe, a World War II pilot from Taihape who was captured and held prisoner at Stalag Luft III where he was part of the attempt to escape by digging tunnels ( "The Great Escape"). Although he and others did escape, John Pohe was one of the escapees who was recaptured and shot...

Here is the link to the Down the back of the chair website about ordering it :
http://thechair.minedu.govt.nz/servlet/Srv.Ecos_Signon?CN=12587&UC=MOEVIEW&AC=A877804567019987

And you can read more here about John Pohe at the Auckland Museum website :

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/18989.detail

The book is published by Huia, and was written by Julian Arahanga, translated by Hareruia Aperahama, and illustrated by Andrew Burdan.

For learners of te reo Maori...

A couple of resources which may be of interest to novice speakers of te reo Maori...

He Kupu o te Rā - a word of the day service for Te Reo Māori This is a free service which sends you daily a Maori word with a definition and use in a sentence. Just register with your email (or you can use an RSS feed) and a new word will arrive in your mailbox each morning... You can also browse the website, and test yourself on a group of words on a particular theme.
Here is an example of a daily message :

whānui: broad, wide

• He mihi tēnei ki te whānau whānui. This is a greeting to the extended (wider) family.
  

• Ko tōku whaea te tuara whānui o tō mātou whānau. My mother is the (broad back) anchor of our family.
  

Rāmere, te 23 o Paenga-whāwhā, 2010.
Change my options Test me Browse kupu Recommend He Kupu o te Rā to a friend...

For Maori language week NZ History online put together this resource:
A hundred Maori words every New Zealander should know
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words

Maori vocabulary

At the network meeting, Clare Giesbers kindly shared some Ngapuhi te reo which they are using in the library at Northland College :

• inquire into - patapatai
• think - whakarotia
• share - mahitahi
• wonder - whakamiharo (with a macron on the i)
  
• question - patai
• explore - toroa
• connect - honoa
• reflect - whakapumahara (with a macron on the u)
  
• imagine - poheweatia
• quest - rapunga