A celebration of whakapapa, wāhinetanga and whenua.
This is a tender, empowering story of a kōhine’s first ikura — her period — and the love, knowledge and ceremony shared by her whānau. From the rākau planted when she was born, to the karakia shared when she gifts her first blood back to the whenua, she learns that her body, her whakapapa and her wāhinetanga are sacred.
A taonga for our uri whakaheke.
This is the first children’s story in Aotearoa written about a first menstruation through a Māori cultural framework. In this narrative we honour the works and teachings of Dr Ngahuia Murphy, acknowledging her revival of the rich mātauranga around ikura that we are so fortunate to have access to today.
This pukapuka emphasises ceremony, family support and ancestral
wisdom – it also includes a specially written karakia by Stacey Morrison for whānau to learn and share in together.
With premium finishes and lush, full-colour illustrations, Isobel Joy
Te Aho-White brought Papatūānuku to the page using kōkōwai (earth pigments)
throughout the book, and Chloē Reweti hand drew the cover title font.
Written and self-published by Qiane Matata-Sipu, this story draws on her own lived experiences and those of her whānau.
Peer-reviewed by puberty and health professionals, mothers, women and young girls, this story supports conversations in kura, classrooms and at home about periods, wellbeing and identity.
Hardcover.
"Ko Tainui te waka, Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa te moana, Ōruarangi te awa, Puketaapapa te maunga, Ihumātao te papakāinga, Makaurau te marae, Te Wai o Hua ki Te Ahiwaru me Te Akitai, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao me Ngāti Kukiairani (Arorangi, Mangaia) ngā iwi - Ko Qiane Matata-Sipu ahau. (pronounced key-ah-ne)
