Witi Ihimaera is a celebrated novelist and short story writer from New Zealand, renowned for his masterful prose and profound explorations of Māori heritage. He is a pioneer in Māori literature, being the first to publish both a novel and a collection of short stories. His work is characterized by a unique voice that bridges traditional Māori narratives with contemporary life. Ihimaera has also served as a professor, dedicating himself to the advancement of Māori literature.
First published in 1972, Pounamu Pounamu introduced an exciting new voice into New Zealand literature. Most of Witi Ihimaera's stories, based on the East Coast, describe a traditional rural, communal way of life facing huge pressures from the drift by many Maori to the cities. This was to be a constant theme in Ihimaera's future writing.
The matriarch is a woman of intelligence, wit, beauty and ruthlessness, and has become a mythical figure through her fight to repossess the land and sustain her people against the ravages wrought by the Pakeha. Priestess of the Ringatu faith, she has been virtually a law unto herself. In his search for the truth behind the legends surrounding the matriarch, his grandmother, Tama Mahana delves deeper and deeper into Maori history and lore to understand the mysterious sources of her power and ambition.
In every generation since the legendary 'whale rider', a male descendant inherits the title of chief. But now there is no male heir-there's only Kahu. She should be next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl.But Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle, she has a unique ally: the ancient whale rider himself. With a fierce determination and the power of her gifts, Kahu may be able to strengthen her tribe's ancestral connections, earn her great-grandfather's attention-and lead her community to a bold new future.Can she embrace her destiny and become the next whale rider?
Witi Ihimaeras Geschichten spannen sich von der Vergangenheit der Maori bis in die Gegenwart.
This is NEW ZEALAND text WITI IHIMAERA AND TIM PLANT
A living land of wonder, a shimmering, restless sea, a sky of endless promise. Beautiful North Island of New Zealand contains text by Witi Ihimaera and photographs by Holger Leue. All of New Zealand's most famous landmarks are represented in this book; the Auckland Harbour Bridge, The Sky Tower, Cathedral Square, As well as more unusual images of people and places.
