Dear Moko

Kua tuhi pukapuka mōhio anō a Dr Hinemoa Elder. He kohinga whakataukī tēnei pukapuka, mā ā tātou mokopuna katoa. Kei ia whakatauki tētahi paku whakamārama me tētahi kōrero whaiwhakaaro e pā ana ki te whakataukī. E whā ngā wāhanga o te pukapuka nei: “Manaakitanga – Te aroha ki te tangata”, “Kaitiakitanga: Te aroha ki a Papatūānuku”, “Whanaungatanga – Te aroha ki ngā hononga” me “Te Rangatiratanga – Te aroha ki te tika”. Kei te rongonui ētahi o ngā whakatauki, he whakatauāki nō tō Elder ake iwi.

Nā Miriama Grace-Smith ngā pikitia. He rerehua ngā pikitia whakaari, he ātaahua hoki ngā tae. He pukapuka uhi mārō tenēi. He papai hoki ngā whārangi. He kounga te āhua. He pukapuka hei āta pānui me te āta wānanga.

Kātahi rā te pukapuka waiwaiā ko tēnei! He pukapuka pai mā ngā tamariki, mokopuna, mātua anō hoki. Ko tāku tino whakataukī mai i te pukapuka, ko tēnei: “E tū te huru mā, haramai e noho. E tū te huru pango, hanatu e haere.” He whakataukī hei akiaki i ngā mokopuna ki te whai i ōna wawata. Ū ana te wehi!

Dr Hinemoa Elder has written another wise book. This book is a collation of whakataukī for all mokopuna. Each whakataukī is followed by a short explanation and a longer contemplation of the whakataukī. There are four chapters: “Manaakitanga – Care, respect and kindness towards others and ourselves”, “Kaitiakitanga: Love for our world”, “Whanaungatanga – Empathy and connection between people, no matter what” and me “Te Rangatiratanga – The pursuit of what is right, self-determination”. The whakataukī are a mixture of well-known favourites and whakatauāki from Elder’s own iwi.

Miriama Grace-Smith has created the images. The illustrations are beautiful and the colour choice is lovely. This is a hardcover book with thick pages, produced to a high standard. This is a book to read slowly and mindfully.

This is a stunning book! This book will be enjoyed by children, grandchildren as well as their parents. My favourite whakatauki from the book is “E tū te huru mā, haramai e noho. E tū te huru pango, hanatu e haere” which encourages the young to pursue their dreams. Awesome!