The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour
Awarded Storylines Notable Book Award 2012
ISBN 978-0-14350449-8
Written by Moira Wairama
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Published by The Penguin Group 2011
Ngā Taniwha i te Whanga-nui-a-Tara
Awarded LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award 2012
LIANZA Te Tohu Taurapa Award 2012
ISBN 978-0-14350482-5
Written by Moira Wairama
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Published by The Penguin Group 2011
The story of this book
This legend was first told to me by Tipene O’Regan over 40 years ago, at tangi-te keo look out on Matairangi (Mount Victoria) in Te Whanga-nui-A Tara (Wellington).
Over the years I developed my version of the legend and have told it many times. In this way the legend survived as a ‘told’ story however people kept asking me to write a book version.
After ten years of searching for a publisher Ann Mallinson finally agreed to publish the book. When her Wellington publishing company Mallinson Rendell was sold to the Penguin Group they agreed to publish the book in both English and te Reo Māori.
Bruce Potter, the illustrator for my earlier book The Puppet Box, told me he would do the taniwha illustrations if I found a publisher. I asked him if he could create taniwha that looked like prehistoric creatures, because I believe taniwha did and possible still do exist.
The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour CD
At the end of 2015 Moira Wairama of Baggage Books approached Tuhoe musician and music producer Tomi Te Taite to discuss creating a CD for her books The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour/ Ngā Taniwha i te Whanga-nui a Tara.
She also approached Ngā Puhi/ Tuhoe actor Rob Mokaraka and asked him to read the voices of both taniwha. Although at the time Rob was busy working on his show Shot Bro and Tomi was busy producing an album both artists agree to be part of the project.
“Rob was busy working on his amazing show Shot Bro and Tomi was busy producing an album but they both made time so we could work on the CD at Tomi’s home studio in Wainuiomata. They are such talented professionals, the whole process was a breeze. I was blown away when I heard the finished copy.”
The CD features a short introduction about the legend, a dramatized reading of first the English, then the Te Reo Māori versions of the book, complemented by Tomi’s soundscape and finally a simple waiata and haka. The CD was launched together with Moira’s new book The Mother’s Child at BATS Theatre in Wellington in 2016.
Celebrating the launch
