Quinton Hita: Q's course in Maori

By MARGIE THOMSON

Released to coincide with Maori Language Week, this basic guide - which comes with a cassette tape - makes learning Maori seem fun and easy.

The lessons are in the form of discussions between "Master" and "Grasshopper", and the dry humour permeates the instructions.

It's pretty basic: Hita sensibly limits his focus to pronunciation, introductions, how to ask questions and how to describe things using new vocabulary - but it's a positive start.

Hita is the kind of tour de force who is just the figurehead Te Reo needs among young people in particular: dreadlocked and cool-looking, not only is he a presenter and director for television shows Mai Time and Pukana, but he's also a radio presenter and, most recently, an actor in the upcoming Crooked Earth.

HarperCollins

$24.95