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For ages 12 to 16
Reviews
Goodreads reviewer ~ “To defeat a taniwha, you must strike it in the heart, not scratch its skin.”
“Your heart is your taiaha, your head is your patu. These are the weapons with which to strike down a taniwha.”
A simple and short story that follows Haki as he, with guidance from a Māori elder, explores his connection to the land and his role as a kaitiaki of Papatūānuku. The taniwha is a stereotypical white developer who is desecrating tapu land. There were a couple of wonderfully powerful moments as Haki channels the strength of his iwi’s tīpuna. I think it is incredibly important that we have more uplifting stories, like this one, where young Māori are exploring their cultural traditions and values. Inā rawa!
Goodreads reviewer ~ This is an excellent story about a wayward youth getting in touch with his ancestors and ancestry. It also has a good message about adults losing their cultural identity.
Meet the Kiwi author
Find out more about award-winning author Tim Tipene on his author profile.
