WHERE THE REKOHU BONE SINGS
by Tina Makereti
Co-editor of the wonderful recent collection of Oceanic writing Black Marks on the White Page, Tina Makereti's beautifully plotted and observed 2014 novel Where the Rekohu Bone Sings explores the idea of belonging and the complexities of identity with Moriori, Māori and Pākehā heritage.
Gliding between the Chatham Islands (Rēkohu) and London, and from 1835 to contemporary times the narrative deals with the effects after Māori arrived in New Zealand and massacred the Moriori. Mere and her family slave Iraia grow up together in the Queen Charlotte Sound. Despite their differing social status, the two grow close and run away together to Wellington.
A parallel story sees twins Lulu and Bigs born with an extremely rare occurrence: Lulu is completely white and Bigs is brown. Under the watchful eye of the spirit figure of the bone of Rēkohu, the mythical is fluidly weaved into this stunning story of dislocation, family secrets and engaging with cultural heritage.
STRUGGLE WITHOUT END: KA WHAWHAI TONU MATOU
by Ranginui Walker
A strong advocate of Māoridom and a staunch champion of Te Reo Māori, trailblazer Ranginui Walker's work led it to being recognised as an official language in New Zealand. This groundbreaking bestseller outlines the history of Aotearoa from a Māori perspective and was writer, academic and educator Walker's magnum opus.
Originally published in 1990 and revised and updated in 2004, Walker's vigorous and important text outlines Māori life before the arrival of European explorers on our shores, the quest for political and economic autonomy and equality, the long-standing fallout of colonialism, and the developments in post-colonial New Zealand.