The Seven Stars of Matariki


Book Description

When he sees his brothers bewitched by seven beautiful women, the adventurous young Mītai must step in. The Seven Stars of Matariki is a contemporary myth of love, magic and adventure that celebrates Matariki and tells how the star cluster came into being.




Stolen Stars of Matariki


Book Description

Behind dusty orange hills, where the sky stretches down to the sea, theres a magical, wild, windy place called Te Mata Hapuku. Sam and Te Rerehua love to visit their Grandma and Poua at Te Mata Hapuku (aka Birdlings Flat). They like to collect agate from the stories, with a backdrop of whipping wind, flashing torchlight, and the splash of Pouas gaff in the water. But one night, Grandma notices something mysterious. Someone has stolen some stars from the sky. And then the patupaiarehe come out to play on the beach... Can Sam and Te Rerehua rescue the Matariki stars?




The Seven Kites of Matariki


Book Description

It is a special time of year. A time when the whispering wind blows warm from the east, and a crescent moon rises in the wintry night sky. Seven little sisters make kites with eyes of seashells to celebrate the New Year. But that playfulwind whips those kites away... Matariki is here!




Together in Love


Book Description

"The loving embrace of Ranginui and Papatuanuku keeps the land in constant darkness. When their children discover there is light beyond their parents love, chaos is unleased and the stars of Matariki are created"--Back cover. Based on the traditional story.




Matariki


Book Description

In mid-winter, Matariki rises in the pre-dawn sky, and its observation is celebrated with incantations on hilltops at dawn, balls, exhibitions, dinners and a vast number of events. The Matariki tradition has been re-established, and its regeneration coincides with a growing interest in Māori astronomy. Still, there remain some unanswered questions about how Matariki was traditionally observed. These include: What is Matariki? Why did Māori observe Matariki? How did Māori traditionally celebrate Matariki? When and how should Matariki be celebrated? Based on research and interviews with Māori experts, this book seeks answers to these questions and explores what Matariki was in a traditional sense so it can be understood and celebrated in our modern society.




The Promise of Puanga


Book Description

There is a bright new star in the winter sky-Puanga, cousin to the Matariki sisters. Each year, she appears to the people of Aotearoa, a special sign for those unable to see Matariki, that winter and the Maori new year are coming. A new addition to Scholastic's popular Matariki range, this time introducing readers to the Puanga star, which is celebrated for Maori New Year and the coming of winter in place of Matariki along parts of the West Coast of New Zealand.




The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades


Book Description

The seven sisters of the Pleiades are known throughout the world and appear again and again in stories from many cultures. Beginning with her grandmother's tale, Munya Andrews takes the reader to the stars, around and across the planet through Indigenous North America, Australia, Japan and the Pacific, and back through time to Ancient Egypt, India, Greece and South America. She explores the commonalities of legends to discover our common human origins. The Subaru from Japan share much with the young women depicted as birds in the stories from Greece and Indigenous Australia. The Pleiades have been the source of much mythology, wisdom and science over many millennia. The book is also an examination of culture and how culture is expressed through symbols and stories related to stars and other astronomical phenomena. Her work is distinguished from other studies in the field because she brings to it an Indigenous perspective which enriches its interpretative power. No other writer has captured the richness of this mysterious constellation.




A Kite for Moon


Book Description

Dedicated to astronaut Neil Armstrong, A Kite for Moon is the perfect children’s book to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first United States moon landing. Written by New York Times bestselling author of How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Jane Yolen and her daughter, Heidi Stemple, this book is a heartfelt story about a young boy’s fascination and unlikely friendship with the moon. What would it be like if the moon was your friend? Find out as you walk alongside a little boy who journeys through life to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. And then blast off with your little one as you zoom to the moon together! The story begins when a little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, writing notes promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years of studying, learning, and training to become an astronaut. Until … he finally goes up, up, up in a big rocket ship with a fiery tail. A Kite for Moon: Features over 20 gorgeous illustrations by award-winning artist Matt Phelan Is the perfect storybook for children ages 4 to 8 Celebrates every child’s fascination with space




Whaikorero


Book Description

Based on in-depth research and interviews with 30 tribal elders, this guidebook to whaikorero—or New Zealand's traditional Maori oratory—is the first introduction to this fundamental art form. Assessing whaikorero's origin, history, structure, language, and style of delivery, this volume features a range of speech samples in Maori with English translations and captures the wisdom and experience of the Maori tribal groups, including Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Te Arawa, and Waikato-Maniapoto. Informative and noteworthy, this bilingual examination will interest both modern practitioners of whaikorero and Maori culture aficionados.




Black Marks on the White Page


Book Description

A stunning collection of Oceanic stories for the 21st century. Stones move, whale bones rise out of the ground like cities, a man figures out how to raise seven daughters alone. Sometimes gods speak or we find ourselves in a not-too-distant future. Here are the glorious, painful, sharp and funny 21st century stories of Maori and Pasifika writers from all over the world. Vibrant, provocative and aesthetically exciting, these stories expand our sense of what is possible in Indigenous Oceanic writing. Witi Ihimaera and Tina Makereti present the very best new and uncollected stories and novel excerpts, creating a talanoa, a conversation, where the stories do the talking. And because our commonalities are more stimulating than our differences, the anthology also includes guest work from an Aboriginal Australian writer, and several visual artists whose work speaks to similar kaupapa. Join us as we deconstruct old theoretical maps and allow these fresh Black Marks on the White Page to expand our perception of the Pacific world.