Pukunui's Page

Tu Tangata, Issue 7, 1 August 1982, Page 34

Pukunui's Page

by James Waerea

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Pukunui, the little Maori boy created hy writer and illustrator, James Waerea is to have his own page next issue in Tu Tangata. Pukunui will be aimed at children up

to ten years of age and his page will feature poems, stories, jokes whatever from children as well as children’s profiles, Maori proverbs, a crossword puzzle, songs etc.

Pukunui and his Friend Moata Moa. Written and illustrated by James Waerea Macmillan s/cov $6.95 hard $9.95.

A children’s book with an interesting difference; a first Maori text book for the youngest reader, one they can enjoy even while taking in the words and phrases interspersed and interpreted from time to time.

Pukunui is a fat little Maori lad who has a pet moa, a bulk-bodied, fatnecked, big-toed monster of a pet that suits Pukunui perfectly. They introduce themselves to us, Pukunui with “Kia ora ko Pukunui taku ingoa,” Moata moa with “Werp” and then they set off to the beach for food, for pipi and kutai and paua and kina and koura, the boy swimming down through the cold water, the moa watching from the shore.

They take the flax kit back to the pa and go on to the forest to collect berries and fern roots but nothing is ever simple.

Pukunui can climb on Moata’s back to pick from trees, can scratch for roots, can rim from a party of hostile hunters intent on catching the moa for dinner, but moas cannot fly, so what will they do when cornered on the edge of a gully?

You will have to find out by buying the book, but sufficient to say there is a happy ending and a glossary and pronunciation chart at the end. A happy book indeed. All children will love it.

(ZW)