We begin our journey in the year 1770, on the shores of he North Island of Aotearoa | New Zealand. During this time, the indigenous people of this land known now as Māori, first interacted with European explorers.
Māori tribes have been on this land for many generations and the way we see the world is unique.
Yes - this is a dramatic, romantic novel yes set in an era of expansion, religious colonisation and war; but it's also a love note to the Pūrākau (Māori stories about the natural world and the Gods that rule them) that have built cultural resilience into every generation since.
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Let's meet a few of our characters:
MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA (Pronounced Moe-ana-new-ey-a-key-wa)
AKA Kiwa
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TUI ROIMATA | Pania's Little Sister
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PANIA ROIMATA | The Best Friend
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TUHAKA NGATA | The Warrior
Others will be introduced over time...
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This story is based off actual events, but with a strong mythology/fantasy fiction side. I have written in English, but some words are also written in Māori when I feel the need to include them. If you want to learn more about a word, I encourage you to look up it up on maoridictionary.co.nz