Matariki summit to host book launch
AN INTERACTIVE children’s book which shows tamariki they can be confident, competent and connected to their culture and the world around them will have a soft launch at the two-day Wa¯ hine Summit at Matariki running today and tomorrow at Ohauiti’s Eagle Ridge Country Estate.
Written by Stacey Mareroaroberts and illustrated by Travis Orams, Brooklyn Builds a Bridge
is a future fantasy adventure for children aged 5-12 that draws on Ma¯ ori culture and is inspired by real-life experiences. It shows children that, with imagination, they can find their inner awesomeness and share their great ideas and gifts with others.
Mareroa-roberts is a mother of three from Te Puna. After a career in law and business development, Mareroa-roberts has now written and selfpublished her own piece of local “herstory”.
Brooklyn Builds a Bridge
brings awareness to places and spaces within Tauranga Moana through a little girl’s eyes. It celebrates the area’s rich Ma¯ ori history and uses visual stories to imagine a future that includes Matauranga Ma¯ ori knowledge and traditions.
“It’s written for the readers of the future, knowing that books can inspire and change minds but also transform. By connecting our young people with our books and an author and character that is representative of them, we can help them see the world from a different viewpoint,” Mareroaroberts says.
“I want to encourage young girls and boys to dream big, develop confidence and embrace the skills and gifts of various characters and people in the book to help them achieve their goals.”
The book has a QR code offers which enables to look at the pictures or follow along to Mareroa-roberts’ voice and explore the book themselves, even if they don’t know how to read all the words. It includes personal practice and reflective wellbeing resources for young people to apply in their daily lives.
“The plan is to create a series of five signature books, and to make special author appearances at schools where reading in the home is not a daily habit, and conscious pronunciation of te reo Ma¯ ori is not a common effort,” Mareroa-roberts says. “We want to make the books accessible for everyone and we have a special place for local kids who are on a journey to learning about te reo Ma¯ ori and Ma¯ ori culture or are looking to connect in a more meaningful way for belonging to our special place.”