A.W. Reed – författare

Māori myths and legends have an important role in transmitting and regenerating traditional knowledge. Yet as Ross Calman points out in his introduction to this new edition, they are also simply great yarns -- reflective of a time when telling and listening to stories was a key leisure activity in Māori society. This is an invitation to enjoy over 30 of the most memorable legends, grouped into themes of the spirit world, patupaiarehe (ghosts), taniwha, supernatural creatures, heroes and deeds of daring. Concise yet complete, these stories are enlivened by the fine illustrations of Roger Hart.

In this updated edition of the Reed Book of Māori Mythology, esteemed editor Ross Calman comprehensively revises the core stories of gods (atua) and people (tangata) and the many other beings that sit on the continuum between the two. Divided into themes, this elegantly produced volume starts with traditions of the creation of the universe, and the separation of Rangi and Papa, then reviews the pantheon of atua (gods), the overworlds and underworlds. Next are the demigods and supernatural peoples, then legends of earth, ocean and sky, tohunga and makutu, and finally legends of love and endurance. He Atua, He Tangata presents different versions for stories, with sources identified where possible. Calman has modernised the language to give stories a contemporary feel, incorporating updates to the reo, making this timeless work perfect for twenty-first century readers.

Proverbs (or whakatauki) express the wisdom, wit and commonsense of the Maori people. They are of great value and inspiration to writers, story-tellers and anyone speaking in a Maori setting.Several hundred proverbs are contained in The Raupo Book of Maori Proverbs, categorised under a large number of diverse headings, with translations and explanations in English. This comprehensive and dependable book serves as both a useful reference and an insight into values of the Maori.

The Raupo Concise Maori Dictionary is an invaluable reference work, providing an essential list of words and their equivalents in Maori and English. First published in 1948, the dictionary has been revised and updated numerous times since, giving testimony to its ongoing reliability as a reference guide to everyday Maori words. It also includes a guide to the pronunciation of Maori and lists of useful vocabulary.

This is a true classic: a Maori to English dictionary by the great A.W. Reed with two fine illustrations per page by Roger Hart. First published in 1965, the book used macronised vowels years before these became standard. This facsimile edition updates the text to give a more contemporary context to the headwords, meanings and derivations, but the retro feel remains.