Poem for Ataahua

What does the Spider say?

See I’m spreading out my net,

Doesn’t matter if it’s wet.

Do drop in as you go by —

Alistair Te Ariki Campbell (1925-2009) is one of the great poets of Oceania. Poem for Ataahua is a poem Alistair wrote for his great-granddaughter. In this book artist Sarah Wilkins shares her vision of the poem for children and young people.   

Poem for Ataahua was shortlisted in the 2025 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young People.

In Poem for Ataahua Sarah Wilkin’s lyrical and sensitive art shows an unerring sense of colour, and a compositional flair that makes it an absolute delight to turn each page to reveal a new spread. Mat Tait. Head Judge.