The Library has chosen to celebrate this year’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) by creating the Ngā Kupu Ora Book Awards. These awards are designed to recognise the contribution that Māori focused books make to New Zealand’s literary heritage. Māori Services Staff have identified what they think are the best books published in 2008/09 across five categories. These categories are: Art, Architecture & Design, Biography, History, Sports & Recreation and Te Reo Māori. A sixth category recognises the Māori Book of the Decade (2000 – 2009). Voting is open to everyone, and all Massey University students and staff who vote will go in the draw for a $50 book voucher.

Follow up:

The winners of each category will be determined by voting, with forms available at each of the libraries that make up part of the Massey University Library. An online voting option is also available here. All Massey University staff members and students who vote are eligible to win a $50 book voucher. Members of the public are also able to vote (but will not be eligible for the $50 voucher draw).

Voting will open on Monday 13th July and will close at 5pm on the 29th July 2009. The winners of each category will be announced on Friday 31 July 2009.

The finalists in each category are as follows.

Art, Architecture & Design Book
The Carver and the Artist: Maori Art in the Twentieth Century - Damian Skinner
Maori Architecture: From Fale to Wharenui and Beyond - Deidre Brown
Ralph Hotere - Kriselle Baker & Vincent O'Sullivan
Toi Ora: Ancestral Maori Treasures - Arapata Hakiwai & Huhana Smith

Biography
He Iti, He Taonga: Taranaki Maori Women Speak - Kerensa Johnston
Mata Toa: the life and times of Ranginui Walker - Paul Spoonley
Ratana: The Prophet - Keith Newman
Tohunga Whakairo: Paki Harrison: The Story of a Master Carver - Ranginui Walker

History
The Beating Heart: A Political and Socio-Economic History of Te Arawa - Vincent O'Malley & David Armstrong
Maori Tribes of New Zealand - Ministry of Culture & Heritage
Ngai Tahu: A Migration History: The Carrington Text - Te Maire Tau
Nga Tama Toa: The Price of Citizenship - Monty Soutar

Sports & Recreation
Beneath the Maori Moon: An Illustrated History of Mâori Rugby - Malcolm Mulholland
100 Years: Maori Rugby League: 1908 - 2008 - John Coffey & Bernie Wood
Nga Taonga Takaro = Maori Sports and Games - Harko Brown

Te Reo Māori
Te Ngakau: He Wananga i te Matauranga: Kia Puta He Aroha, He Maramatanga - Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal
He Pataka Kupu - Te Taura Whiri o Te Reo Maori
He Puranga Takupu a Taranaki 2008 - Te Reo o Taranaki
Tahuhu Korero: The Sayings of Tai Tokerau - Merata Kawharu & Krzysztof Pfeiffer

Book of the Decade
Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka Volume II: Te Ara Hou - The New Society - Hilary and John Mitchell
Mau Moko: The World of Maori Tattoo - Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
Te Tû a Te Toka: He Ieretanga nô ngâ Tai e Whâ - Huriana Raven and Piripi Walker (editors)
Tu - Patricia Grace
Whetu Moana - edited by Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri & Robert Sullivan
Tai Tokerau Whakairo Rakau - Deidre Brown
Nga Pepeha a Nga Tipuna: The Sayings of the Ancestors - Hirini Moko Mead & Neil Grove
Eruera Manuera - Te Onehou Phillis
Parihaka: The Art of Passive Resistance - edited by Te Miringa Hohaia, Gregory O'Brien & Lara Strongman
Ralph Hotere: Black Light - edited by Ian Wedde
Pukaki: A Comet Returns - Paul Tapsell

Māori Services Staff