Tamatea Toa

I’m working on a new book in the Pasifika Heroes series – Tokelau Heroes. Today my students performed a play about Lata, a legendary Tokelau hero. It was a show for children and was performed at Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.

I visited Papakura Intermediate today and it was so awesome sharing stories with these talented young people, showing them that reading can change people’s lives … even a book about rocks! And then to hear that the kids took books about rocks out from the library afterwards – that’s pretty cool.

Four days a week she’s a doctor. The other three days she’s a world champion powerlifter! Find out how this Māori-Tongan wahine toa from South Auckland did it, in this inspirational new biography from Reading Warrior. Order here: https://readingwarrior.com/product/dr-karlina-tongotea-world-champion-powerlifter/

First showing of the art from a new book I’m making for kids about Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow aka “Hammer” an NRL player with the Dolphins. It’s awesome working with Saibai Island artist Tyrown Waigana who’s from the same clan as Hamiso. I’m so excited about this book not just because I get to work with Tyrown,…

A massive fa’afetai lava to Jacob Farani-Faga and Sia Farani-Faga for this awesome short film about the book Sāmoa which we made this year. Jake, his wife Sia, and their children recently moved to Sāmoa and his son is in a book we launched in June. Sometimes you meet people you click with immediately as…

Ngā mihi to the Manurewa Marlins under 13 Maidens rugby league team – players, management and families. We did it! We published a book of your writing- sharing your stories of why you like to play rugby league, your inspirations, challenges and proud moments, and your future dreams. If anyone would like to read these…