Creation story gets digital treatment

Kiwa Digital have launched a series of interactive graphic novellas in te reo Maori. Photo / Supplied

A series of interactive graphic novellas in the Maori language has been launched.

Published by Kiwa Digital, the series has the backing of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, the Maori Language Commission, and re-tells the Maori creation story in a contemporary format for the digital generation.

The launch was attended by Shane Jones, Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development, MPs Marama Fox and Kelvin Davis and Erima Henare, chairman of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori.

"Kiwa Digital educational apps are a great example of New Zealand and Maori combining intellectual property with commercial endeavour," Mr Jones said.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said of the launch that Kiwa Digital had demonstrated its strong ability to seize opportunities that changes in technology brought.

"Starting first in the post production industry and now revolutionising how we approach e-books," he said.

"Publishing our traditional stories as apps answers the increasing demand from young Maori for creative ways to learn to speak the Maori language, and for opportunities to engage with it," Tuehu Harris of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori said.

"Kiwa Digital have produced a quality set of graphic novellas that support our goal of revitalising te reo Maori in online and offline communities."

The apps have several educational features. "Swipe to read" highlights synchronised text to audio, "tap to hear" allows the reader to touch individual words for correct pronunciation and "tap to spell" technology supports learning to spell Maori words phonetically while English spelling is supported in the traditional way. There is an option to self-record so the reader can replace the app voice with their own.

The stories were written by Rereata Makiha, Nikora Wharerau and Waihoroi Shortland after which Munro Te Whata, Kiwa's own in-house illustrator, added his striking and colourful imagery. The warm and evocative voices of Rewi Spraggon and Lois McGiver were chosen for the introductory story while Mr Shortland narrated the remaining three novels. Music and soundtracks were composed and recorded by Riki Bennett and Spraggon.

"Books are wonderful but the great tradition of storytelling is to speak out loud," said Rhonda Kite, founder of Kiwa Digital.

Available in the App Store and Google Play, the first novella is free, with subsequent instalments priced at $1.29.