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  • Published: 28 September 2021
  • ISBN: 9780143776437
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 208
  • RRP: $45.00

Kia Kaha

A Storybook of Maori Who Changed the World



An award-winning and powerful illustrated storybook for the tamariki and rangatahi of Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Maoritanga!

KIA KAHA is a collection of true stories about amazing Maori who have achieved incredible things.

Each of them blazed a trail in their own way, and this pukapuka was written to show that with your kura huna, your special gifts, YOU can make a difference too.

Written by Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock, and featuring fabulous illustrations by Akoni Pakinga, Haylee Ngaroma, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, Jess Thompson aka Maori Mermaid, Josh Morgan, Kurawaka Productions, Miriama Grace-Smith, Ngaumutane Jones aka Ms Meemo, Reweti Arapete, Taupuruariki Whakataka-Brightwell, Xoe Hall and Zak Waipara, KIA KAHA is a very special book for the young people of Aotearoa. Featuring people and groups both historic and contemporary, who have achieved great things from land marches and language revival to hip hop and contemporary Maori fashion design, this pukapuka will fill readers of all ages, and from all walks of life, with aroha, whanaungatanga and hope for our future.

Kia kaha – be strong, go hard!

  • Published: 28 September 2021
  • ISBN: 9780143776437
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 208
  • RRP: $45.00

About the authors

Stacey Morrison

Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) is a radio and TV broadcaster whose projects have spanned 25 years. She is also a māmā to three tamariki who have been brought up with te reo Māori as their mother tongue. Stacey herself didn’t learn to speak Māori until she was an adult. It required a lot of research, determination, wonderful mentors and the support of a community to achieve her goal of becoming fluent by the time her children were born.

Stacey and her husband Scotty co-wrote Māori at Home to help other families use te reo in everyday settings, and Stacey's first children's book, My First Words in Māori, became a number-one bestseller. She has since co-authored Kia Kaha: A storybook of Māori who changed the world with Jeremy Sherlock, which won NZ Booklover's Best Children's Book and a Storylines Notable Non-fiction Award.

Both Stacey and Scotty work with many groups and families to build Māori-language friendships and community for whānau. Stacey has also been an advisor on pre-schooler and children’s TV shows, which, along with her experiences with her own children, has helped her identify the words children pick up early in their language learning. As a winner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Champion Award in 2016, and the winner of Waipunarangi - Te Reo and Tikanga Award 2021, as well as a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo (the Institute of Excellence in Māori Language), Stacey loves encouraging the learning and use of our country’s beautiful native language.

Jeremy Sherlock

Jeremy Sherlock (Tainui, Ngati Awa) was born and raised in the small town of Coromandel. Growing up, he loved sport, music and drawing and was always a bit of a bookworm. At the time, there wasn’t much of a selection of books written about and for Maori, but his grandfather’s tall stories, family histories, and Peter Gossage’s picture books about the myths of Aotearoa made a big and lasting impression. A couple of decades later, he joined the publishing industry as an editor of non-fiction. Over the years, Jeremy has worked in New Zealand and Australia for Reed, Penguin and Penguin Random House, specialising in biography and memoir, sports, history, pop culture and all things Maoritanga. He currently lives and works in Tamaki Makaurau as a freelance publishing consultant and writer. Kia Kaha, a collaboration with Stacey Morrison, is his first book.

Praise for Kia Kaha

The stories are concise, compelling, important and often revelatory, especially to those who grew up outside te ao Maori. Just as great are the brilliant, revealing and often wildly creative illustrations by the 12 Maori illustrators who worked on the book. Give it to people you care about because it's brillant, or because it's beautiful, or because it's important, but do give it.

Greg Bruce, Canvas

From the creators of the Maori Made Easy series and beautifully illustrated by 12 Maori artists, this collection of true stories features inspirational Maori from all walks of life. It's a brilliant gift for all ages.

Lucy Bailey, The Dominion Post Weekend

I see this magnificent and important book, this gift, this taonga, as a waka that sets sail into the future with song and recognition, ideas and heart, mahi and aroha. This is my favourite children’s book of 2021, no question.

Paula Green, Poetry Box

The key to an excellent biographical anthology is choosing the right people, and Stacey and Jeremy have got this absolutely spot on. The choices range from Maui (demigod) to the Upper Hutt Posse, chief justice Sir Joe Williams to fashion designer Kiri Nathan, and suffragist Meri Te Tai Mangakahia to the Maori All Blacks. Illustrations from Josh Morgan, Xoë Hall and a variety of other fabulous Maori artists bring it to life.

Sarah Forster, Newsroom

I like how this collection gets to the heart of the personality of the person being profiled....Stacey and Jeremy have picked a diverse range of Maori role models from politicians, artists, film directors, leaders, activitists, to te reo educators, waka builders, musicians and writers. It's been in the bestseller list ever since it came out and I'm not surprised. Would make an excellent Christmas present for any age group. And if you can afford it, why not donate a copy of this book to your local school. It's a handsome book that many schools (if they have a budget) and homes will want to buy for their libraries.

Maria Gill, kidsbooksnz.blogspot.com

overflowing with inspiration for any young reader...An amazing collection of astounding New Zealanders. Ano te pai!

Whatbooknext.com

This is a powerful illustrated storybook and an inspiring compendium that celebrates Maori who have done incredible things. From individuals to groups, historic to contemporary history, every entry showcases Maori who have blazed a trail of their own. Illustrated by a host of 12 talented Maori artists, each of whom brings their own flavour to the mini biographies, Kia Kaha is a very special book for readers of all ages. It will inspire every reader, of every generation, to draw on their own strengths and abilities. This is a highly engaging book and wonderful resource that will fill readers with hope and aroha.

Judges, NZ Booklovers Awards, NZ Booklovers

Kia Kaha [weaves] a complex narrative tapestry from the personal journeys and heartfelt stories of Maori

Kyle Mewburn, Judges' commentary, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

A meaningful and inspiring read... by far one of my favourite books.

Iris Moffatt, Hooked on NZ Books He Ao Ano

Awards & recognition

New Zealand Booklovers Awards

Winner  •  2022  •  NZ Booklovers Best Children's Book Award

Storylines Notable Book Award

Awarded  •  2022  •  A Storylines Notable Non-Fiction Book

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Finalist  •  2022  •  Elsie Locke Award for Non-fiction

Discover more

Article
Kia Kaha profile - Taika Waititi

He kept trying new things, experimenting and, most importantly, he kept making stuff. Creative, unusual and funny stuff. Eventually, Taika thought he’d try to make a short film . . .

Article
Kia Kaha profile - Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia

Meri worked and worked and worked. ‘I’ll never give up,’ she vowed. She could see a better future for Māori women, and knew they deserved it.

Video
KIA KAHA 2021 trailer lr

KIA KAHA is a collection of true stories about amazing Maori who have achieved incredible things. Each of them blazed a trail in their own way, and this pukapuka was written to show that with your kura huna, your special gifts, YOU can make a difference too. Written by Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock, and featuring fabulous illustrations by Akoni Pakinga, Haylee Ngaroma, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, Jess Thompson aka Maori Mermaid, Josh Morgan, Kurawaka Productions, Miriama Grace-Smith, Ngaumutane Jones aka Ms Meemo, Reweti Arapete, Taupuruariki Whakataka-Brightwell, Xoe Hall and Zak Waipara, KIA KAHA is a very special book for the young people of Aotearoa. Featuring people and groups both historic and contemporary, who have achieved great things from land marches and language revival to hip hop and contemporary Maori fashion design, this pukapuka will fill readers of all ages, and from all walks of life, with aroha, whanaungatanga and hope for our future. Kia kaha – be strong, go hard!