Written in te reo Maori and translated by the author, Rere Atu Taku Poi! is a beautifully illustrated story about gender fluidity in a school setting.
Rangi loves doing haka but performing poi is his favourite – even though his classmates say it's just for girls. When the lead poi performer falls sick before a school performance, Rangi has to take her place.
How will the other students and audience react – ‘Surely a boy can't lead the poi?’
About the Author
Tangaroa Paul (Te Whare Tawhito o Muriwhenua), a poi expert who identifies as
gender-fluid, is a lecturer in te reo Māori at the Auckland University of
Technology, where they have recently submitted a doctoral thesis in gender
studies. Rere Atu Tāku Poi is Tangaroa’s first book.Rebecca Gibbs
(Rongowhakaata) has been a primary school teacher and gained a Bachelor of
Design (VisCom) in 2015, since when she has worked in illustration and
publishing. She lives in Christchurch.