‘This Is A Dream Fulfilled’: Tā Hirini Moko Mead Launches Most Extensive Work At 98

Huia Publishers and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi are proud to announce the upcoming release of Mātauranga Māori by one of the foremost authorities on kaupapa Māori topics, Tā Hirini Moko Mead.

In this book, Tā Hirini defines mātauranga Māori as the beating heart of culture – living, interconnected and all-encompassing. He dedicates chapters to astronomy, language, spirituality, art, time, values, and our relationship to the world through Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean. Highlighting how new knowledge is integrated, he also explores how successive generations have contributed to the growth and refinement of mātauranga Māori in a rapidly changing world.

When asked why now, at 98, was the right time, he replied, ‘This book is a dream fulfilled – it is informed by every book, paper and article written across 73 years. You can understand mātauranga Māori by looking at its branches as they are interlocking and interdependent with each other. That is – language, art, ceremony, values, science, time, place, spirituality, environment and belonging – come together in the mātauranga Māori formula.’

Mātauranga Māori is the companion publication to the bestselling Tikanga Māori. Chief Executive of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Professor Wiremu Doherty spoke to the book’s importance for the Wānanga: ‘Tā Hirini has played a role of unparalleled significance elevating the status, prominence and revitalisation of Māori culture. Dedicating this book to the mokopuna generation of our nation represents him passing on the baton to our rangatahi, having shaped entire networks and support systems for them to be equipped – Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is one of these.’

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Huia Publishers’ Director Eboni Waitere spoke to the importance of Tā Hirini’s work and Mātauranga Māori, ‘This is the first book from our MOU with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and we are so pleased that, of all books, it is this one. Tā Hirini has spent his life advocating for Māori to tell our own stories, to define our own knowledge. Seeing his “why” realised so completely is a full-circle moment.’

Authoring the foreword for Mātauranga Māori, Justice Layne Harvey notes how Tā Hirini also created a book that helps non-Māori better connect to Aotearoa, ‘‘Cultural capacity also helps non-Māori identify more positively as New Zealand citizens.’ In this way, Tā Hirini writes for everybody.’

Mātauranga Māori by Tā Hirini Moko Mead is available to preorder now from all good bookstores and from Huia Publishers’ website for $45.00. The book will be launched in Whakatāne on 28 June.

About the author:

Distinguished Professor Tā Hirini Moko Mead (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa and Tūhourangi) is a writer, commentator, composer, artist and tribal leader. He is the author of over seventy books, papers and articles. He was foundation professor of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and was an inspired founder of Te Whare Wānanga o

Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne. A scholar of Māori language and culture, Tā Hirini was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and received a knighthood in 2009 for his services to Māori and to education.

About Huia Publishers, Bologna Prize Winner for Best Children’s Publisher 2024: 

HUIA is a Māori owned, award-winning publisher championing stories that resonate with our people, reflect our aspirations and value our culture and language. This has been our simple and uncompromising purpose since 1991.

About Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi: 

Founded in Whakatāne in 1992 by Ngāti Awa and officially registered as a Wānanga in 1997 under s162 of the Education Act 1989, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is the only wānanga that delivers programmes from foundation studies through to Doctorates of Philosophy.

© Scoop Media