Tumeke Te Kura

I’m making a new book about Black Ferns Sevens try-scoring machine Michaela Blyde. It’s called Strike Hard! The illustrator is Sarah Trolle and Sarah is a teacher too! The korero that goes with this particular picture is that the Black Ferns Sevens team see themselves as a waka, that leaves mana in its wake. “The…

Today I was blessed to be invited to St Mary MacKillop School in Mangere as their “Author of the Month.” The student librarians wrote to me asking if I could visit because they want their friends and peers to do more reading. I think it’s so awesome that these young people have so much love…

Today we had another launch for the book, Rise of the To’a, the MMT story. This launch was held for the Tongan community at Lesieli Tonga church in Mangere. It’s been an amazing blessing to be part of this work and to learn a little about Tongan culture. A big malo ‘aupito to ‘Alisi Tatafu…

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/

I always love sharing stories with young people about how reading can literally save and change your life. Today I was at Wesley College – blessed and inspired by these talented young people.

I’ve been thinking of ways to use young peoples’ love of their cultures and rugby league to help them with their literacy – so my goal this World Cup year is to make a lot of books that are rugby league-themed to help kids with their reading. The series is called “Light It Up!” I’m…