Because I'm Maori / He Māori Ahau

He ātaahua, he pīwari tēnei pukapuka. Ko te kaupapa matua o te pukapuka “Because I’m Māori / He Māori Ahau”, ko te tuakiritanga Māori. Mai i te wā ka oho i te ata i roto i te whare tīpuna, ki te kitenga o te maunga tipua me te awa tipua, ka whakanui tēnei pukapuka i te ahurea me te whakapapa Māori.

He pukapuka reorua tēnei. Nā Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse ngā reo e rua. He rawe ki te kite i ngā kupu reo Māori, reo Pākehā anō hoki i te whārangi kotahi. He tino āwhina tēnei ki ngā kaipānui e ako tonu ana i te reo rangatira. He ātaahua hoki ngā pikitia whakaari nā Story Hemi-Morehouse, ka hāngai hoki ki te tuakiritanga Māori.

He tino māmā ki te whai i te reo me te whāinga o tēnei pakiwaitara. Ko tētahi o ngā mea mīharo, he waiata hoki ngā kupu. Kei te pukapuka ngā tohu pūoro me tētahi tohu ‘QR’ e hono ai ki te kiriata waiata. He pai tēnei pukapuka mā ngā tamariki nohinohi me ngā whānau e ako tonu ana i te reo Māori, ngā kohungahunga hoki.

This book is beautiful and cute. The underlying message of “Because I’m Māori / He Māori Ahau” is a positive affirmation of Māori identity. From waking up in the morning in a whare tīpuna, to seeing the maunga and river of this child’s pepeha, this book is a celebration of whakapapa and culture.

This book is dual language. Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse has written the words in both te reo Māori and English. It is great to see both languages appearing on the same page. This will be a huge help to readers who are still learning te reo Māori. The illustrations by Story Hemi-Morehouse are beautiful as well and support the affirmation of Māori identity.

It is easy to follow the language and goals of this story. One of the admirable things about this book is that the words are also song lyrics. In the book are the musical notations and a ‘QR’ code that links to videos of the waiata. This book would be good for young tamariki and whānau who are still learning te reo Māori and also Early Childhood centres.