This year Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates its 12th year of Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa, Samoa Language Week as well as the 60th year of Samoa Independence.
Samoa Language Week runs from Sunday 29 May to Saturday 4 June and this year’s theme is “Fa’aāuāu le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai – Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean.” The Ministry of Pacific Peoples shares that “the Samoan community chose a theme that would reflect the journey of language revitalisation and maintenance as well as recognising the importance of having the right tools, good leadership skills, relationships and the correct medium (va’a) that is adaptable to faring the ocean and its element.”
Samoa Language Week at Ara brings a celebration of Samoan language and culture. You’re encouraged to celebrate with the Pacific Island Students of Ara at a number of events across campuses:
Learning everyday Samoan phrases – Monday 30 May, 12PM – 1PM, Te Paerangi, Te Puna Wanaka, City Campus
Ula lole (lolly necklaces), painting, and learning everyday Samoan phrases – Tuesday 31 May, 11:30AM – 1PM, Library, City Campus
I came across this item when I was placing some books back on the shelves. It is a book with a hunting theme called The Game Butcher by Darran Meates.
The Game Butcher by Darran Meates
I know the idea of hunting and gathering your own meat is probably foreign to most of us but it is a well established type of outdoor activity here in New Zealand.
The book is filled with interesting and useful tips about preparing wild game for use. It covers the full gambit of this skillful job including field butchery, preservation of hides, processing game into useful meat cuts and even some recipes.
Contents page from The Game Butcher
Ara once trained local butchery apprentices and though this is not a study stream anymore we still have books in the library about these skills.
Back cover of Darran Meates book
I imagine there will be a few staff and students here at Ara who enjoy gathering their own wild meat and I am sure they would find this off great assistance. You can find it in the Library at shelf location TS1960MEA.
“Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!”
Today is Pink Shirt Day! This day is about working together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusiveness. We want to help create a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion or cultural background.
When did Pink Shirt Day start?
Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007, when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. Since 2009, we’ve been celebrating Pink Shirt Day in Aotearoa and the campaign grows stronger and larger every year!
How can you celebrate Pink Shirt Day?
Pink Shirt Day Aotearoa – put your best pink kit on and support this very important message! Want to show your support? Here are some ideas!
Speak Up Stand Together Stop Bullying
Wear something pink/ something that is important and awesome to you!
Wear something pink to show your support of the day- it could be a favourite scarf, some brilliant footwear, a dress, top or anything that is important to you!
The song ‘Iarere Aio’ or Positive Vibrations was composed by Pere Wihongi and features Mohi Allen, a Māori engagement specialist for the Mental Health Foundation.
Allen says it uses references to the Whare Tapa Whā Māori health model and traditional whakataukī.
“He paku whakamaharatanga. It’s a bit of a reminder for our rangatahi, for our whānau to be true to who they are, their identity, and to be proud of who they are. To stand up and just be really proud of their own identity”.
With winter almost upon us (it certainly felt like it last night and early this morning!) and sadly, a lot of people still having to isolate due to Covid, we might find ourselves confined indoors a bit more than we would like to.
While this might not be by choice, it might also be a great opportunity to slow down and relax and why not (if we are well enough to) pick up a book and get caught in the story.
So here is a selection of books recently read and/or loved by your favourite library team, enjoy! 😊
What are you currently reading?
Kevin (Manager for Academic Support) is currently reading: Beartown by Fredrik Backman, a sequel to Us Against You. It’s about two neighbouring wilderness towns in Canada obsessed by Ice Hockey and the rivalry between them. That rivalry explodes into violence as the town teams compete against each other, demonstrating how sport can (mostly negatively) influence politics, relationships, friendships and the generally good character of people.
Claire (Librarian) is currently reading: Ben Aaronovitch, Amongst our weapons. The latest in his Rivers of London series.
Michal (Librarian) is currently reading:Mám pro tebe pusinku. It’s a short book with 10 pages, each page has one sentence. I read it every day to my son from the start until the end, it takes about 2 minutes. I know every page and sentence by heart. It’s like meditation – you do it again, and again, and again and it teaches you patience and compassion.
Jon (Librarian) is currently reading: Ian Rankin, A song for the dark times. It is a Rebus crime thriller. I have read all of his books over the years and this is the latest (2020).
Pearl (Librarian) is currently reading : Coffee art by Benmayor, Daniel It was real practical book to make Latte art and easy to follow.
Cha (Librarian) is currently reading: Gumboots and Pigtails which was written by my daughter’s great great grand aunt. From Pakeha and Kati Mamoe/Kai Tahu descent, she describes her childhood growing up on a gold mine in Southland in the early 20th century. It’s a fascinating trip back in time -Roundhill was then the biggest Chinese settlement in the country- but there are also some heartbreaking passages where she relates how she and her siblings were being abused by their school teacher (!) for being Māori.
Jennifer (Librarian) is reading currently reading (again): Mindhunter – Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit which is written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. This book, which now has a TV series by the same name on Netflix, delves into the real life psychology of disturbed serial killers – that were hunted by FBI Special Agent and psychologist John E. Douglas.
What is your favourite book?
Jon: I was a great fan of Hunter S Thompson when I was younger….he was the father of Gonzo journalism in the late 1960’s- 1970’s. Most people would have heard of his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (an excellent book) but I actually prefer Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72. It is about the awful 1972 election in the United States when Nixon was running for reelection in the midst of the developing Watergate scandal. Generation of Swine is also good…
Claire (Librarian): This changes weekly – usually, it’s whatever I am reading at the moment. If I’m not enjoying a book, I won’t finish it (well, I’ll usually flick to the last chapter to find out what happens…)
Michal: The Little Prince. It’s so simple, complicated, sad, and beautiful. All at the same time “Only the children know what they are looking for.”
Charlotte: That’s a very hard one because I love so many authors and genres! If it had to be narrowed down I would pick The Lord of the Rings. I used to read it every year in my younger days but I am still fascinated by the amount of details -to think that Tolkien could imagine this entire world with its own languages, cultures and myths, it is mind-blowing. But it is also special to me because my dad got me the books for a birthday and I hated it at first but when I persevered (I didn’t want to see the movies first!) I completely fell in love. A close tie would be Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (often referred to as Blade Runner after the Ridley Scott movie came out) by Phillip K. Dick. I am huge sci-fi fan and this was one of the first novels of this genre I read.
Pearl: Cooking books various cultural things included, and interior items.
Kevin: It’s impossible to name one favourite. I really enjoyed ThePillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and most of his historical drama that follow. I love the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall.
Jennifer: I have many favourite books (which is a real problem, especially since I am running out of room!) but one of my favourites – due to illustrations and storyline is gothic story of The poison Diaries by the Duchess of Northumberland. She has long researched poison gardens, and is responsible for creating the Poison Garden at Alnwick Gardens in England, which opened in 2004 to worldwide acclaim. These are to teach children and adults alike the curative and lethal properties of poisonous plants. This has super interesting illustrations, as it is an ex Disney cartoonist who illustrated this title. Colin Stimpson worked as an animator at Steven Spielberg’s Amblimation studio in London and then at Disney Feature Animation in California. The storyline is a diary of the main character, who has a sweet romance and who slowly goes insane. Each chapter of the story begins with botanical notes: a plants appearance and properties, where it is found, how it should be cared for, the most poisonous parts, and how poison is extracted and administered. All researched and accurate! Accompanying the sketches of the plants in their natural form, the main character’s diary also reveals the real personalities of the plants.
Any other book you may have read recently (or not so recently) that you recommend?
Michal: The Fifth Season. We have it in the library collection. It’s a stunning novel with mind-blowing epic sad ending.
Kevin: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams was a great read. It’s an unexpectedly fascinating story of how the Oxford English Dictionary was compiled through a fictional character’s interactions with real characters and events. Another recent read, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell was an interesting but quite disturbing book.
Pearl: I just found old CDs in ARA library I am enjoying to listen, for example, Barbra Streisand, Beatles ( old version ), Mary Poppins, Edith Piaf… It is interesting to explore them.
Jon and Charlotte: Uprising by Nic Low. It is a Māori perspective about tramping, climbing and long distance journeys over the old Pounamu trails that exist in the South Island. Great book, informative, insightful and from a different non European perspective which is rare in this genre. Cha adds ‘I got it for my husband initially believing it was a mountaineering book, but it is a fascinating learning journey. I hadn’t been hooked on a book this much in a while, I just couldn’t stop until I reached the last page and I wished there had been more.’
Claire: Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold. Good solid immersive fantasy, but concerned more with politics and theology than magic.
Happy readings!
Did you recently enjoy a book or have an old time favourite? Feel free to share with us in the comments below and/or our social media accounts 😊
The Rotuman Language is also an endangered language – and with the theme for this year being how can we keep Pacific languages alive and sustainable – let’s have a go!
There were many fantastic activities throughout this previous week, if anyone has any photos we would love to see them, especially of the paint and kava that were made!
There was:
A scavanger hunt in Madras, Manawa and Woolston campuses
Special events/forums and posts on PISA’s Instagram and Facebook pages
Finally, a paint and Kava events at Woolston and Madras City campuses
We will be celebrating each beautiful Pacific language throughout the year, so keep an eye out for more information about future activities online and around the Ara campuses.
MUA’ is a short film by Tristan Petueli who hails from the villages of Malha’a, Lopta and Itumuta in Rotuma. When Tristan was tasked to make this short film, he had the creative freedom to make it about anything he wanted — and what he wanted was to showcase the things he held dearest to him, which are his family and the Rotuman Language, and to convey the most important message of all: to not take either for granted. Find this video, and other on NZ Rotuman Language Week (FB) @officialnzrotumanlanguageweek
Please continue to encourage each other to learn the language. Keep practicing, embrace and be proud of who you are. #VetạkiaOsFaegaMaAgFakHanua
May 12th 2022 is International Nurses Day, and the birthday of perhaps the most internationally recognised nurse: Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). But this day is not just about recognising this one woman, it recognises and celebrates the important role of nurses world-wide. International Nurses Day 2022’s theme is: “A voice to lead: Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health”.
Respecting the rights to secure global health has been challenging for nurses all around the world over these past few years. However, it has not just been COVID that has threatened the health of global citizens. Currently there are 22 countries who are facing humanitarian crisis’ because of war (World Population Review 2022). The invasion of Eastern Ukraine, by Russia, is the most recent of these brutal conflicts, with to date a total of 2,224 civilian deaths, 2,897 civilian casualties (Statista.com 2022a) and, since the beginning of February, 110 attacks on health care facilities (Statista.com 2022b). In addition to these figures there have been an estimated 1500 Ukrainian Soldiers (The Conversation, April 7, 2022) and 1800 Russian soldiers (The Guardian, 8 April 2022). Nurse, both military and civilian, are constantly working in these war zones with limited supplies, crude environments, and the threat of death always on the horizon.
Although we are supposed to learn from history, it appears that war, and its inhumane results, are soon forgotten. Throughout the centuries wars have been declared, battles senselessly fought, lives lost, and people maimed. Yet there have been men and women, with a humanitarian conscience, who have worked tirelessly caring both for civilians and combatants. Therefore, on this year’s International Nursing Day I would like to take the opportunity to look back in history, and introduce you to just a few of these selfless nurses, who have strived to provide initial lifesaving care to those effected by wars,
Rufaida Al-Aslamia (620-?) Holy Wars: Battle of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Khaibar, and others.
Rufaida Al Aslamia is recognised as the first female Muslim nurse, and who is responsible for introducing nursing to the Muslim world, 1200 years before Florence Nightingale. Rufaida gained her clinal skills and training from her father, Saad Al-Aslamia a doctor, and devoted herself to taking care of the sick, especially soldiers, during many battles. In turn she trained other women, who under her guidance travelled with the army to provide battlefield care. She is recognised for developing the first ever documented mobile care units that were able to provide the medical needs of the community, including encouraging hygiene and attempting to address other social determinates of health. Her selfless work has not gone unrecognised, each year the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland at the Medical University of Bahrain award the Rufaida Al-Aslamia Prize I Nursing to the Nurse who consistently excels in the delivery of nursing care to patients. (Yahya, 2017).
Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614) Ottoman -Venetian Wars
Saint Camillus de Lellis (Wellcome Library, London. CC BY 4.0)
You may or may not be familiar with St Camillus de Lellis, (1550-1614), but he is one of four patron saints of nursing. He was born in the kingdom of Naples, where he served as a soldier and mercenary from an early age. After receiving concurrent treatment for an abscessed leg, he was disgusted with the bad level of care. Having struggled with alcoholism, aggression, and gambling as a soldier himself, he began to provide care for the dying and the sick at the hospital that had inadequately cared for him. Camillus found that he had a particular affinity with those who struggled with alcoholism and wanted to reform the way that patients were treated, eventually establishing a hospital for alcoholics. He eventually became a priest at 32 years, but resigned in 1607, devoting his life to caring for the sick. Although charity was his first concern, he insisted on cleanliness in hospitals and technical competence for all those who served the sick. In addition, he also developed the first ambulance service of volunteers known as Servants of the Sick and Dying (later recognised as Camillans). These men were universally recognisable through the red cross that they wore emblazoned on their cassocks: a symbol that the International Red Cross still uses today (Bollettino, 1986). They would extend assistance to all those in need, in homes, asylums, hospitals and battlefields without any discrimination. Camillus insisted on charity and serving the sick, with the rule to treat patients with love and “help the sick to eat, be gentle in lifting patients, confer with their doctors on their needs, wash the sick, and make their beds” (Donnelly, 2011). He was canonized in 1746, when he was declared patron saint of the sick and then later Patron saint of nurses by Pope Pius XI in 1930. (www.camillian.org)
Mary Seacole (1805-1881) Crimean War
Statue of Mary Seacole by Martin Jennings in front of St Thomas’ Hospital, London (Photo: Sumit Surai. CC-BY-SA-4.0)
While Florence Nightingale has gone down in history and become a legend for her work during the Crimean War, another woman has been relegated to relative obscurity, until recently. This woman was Mary Seacole. Born a free woman, in Kingston Jamaica, to a Scottish father and a Jamaican mother, she battled both racism and injustice to provide nursing care to soldiers in the Crimean War. Her mother was a practitioner in traditional medicine, and under her tutelage Mary became skilled at caring for the sick. After the onset of the Crimean War, Mary travelled to England, where she approached the British War office to be sent out to work in the Scutari hospital, only to be refused by one of Florence Nightingale’s assistance. Of this refusal she wrote “that American prejudices against colour had taken root here? Did these ladies shrink from accepting my aid because my blood flowed beneath a somewhat duskier skin than theirs?” (Editorial, 2020). Despite this rebuke, Mary funded her own trip to the Crimea and established the British Hotel, with Thomas Day, a relative of her deceased husband. This hotel provided a place for the sick and recovering soldiers. Unlike Florence Nightingale’s Scutari Hospital, which lay 100mile from the frontline, Marys’ hotel was near Balaclava, close to the fighting. She was able to nurse the wounded not only on her premises but also on the battlefield, securing her the name of “Mother Seacole” from the soldiers. It was W.H Russell, the first recognised modern war correspondence, who made Mary famous in England at the time. He wrote that she was “a warm and successful physician, who doctors and cures all manner of men with extraordinary success. She is always in attendance near the battlefield to aid the wounded and has earned many a poor fellow’s blessings” (Editorial, 2020). At the end of the war Mary and her partner were bankrupt, and she returned to London financially ruined. Despite being revered by the public during the war, it was Florence Nightingale who received the praise and went down in the history books, while Mary who was forgotten and lived her last 25 years in obscurity. In 2016 a Statue of Mary Seacole was unveiled at St Thomas Hospital “symbolising her contribution as a nurse and that of people from ethnic community to British Society.” (Mary Seacole Trust). Today the Mary Seacole Trust strives to promote this woman as a “source of inspiration for a fair, diverse and inclusive society, never again to be hidden form history.” (Mary Seacole Trust)
Walt Whitman (1819-1892): the American Civil War
Walt Whitman (New York Public Library. CCO 1.0 Dedication)
The last person included in this tribute, is an unlikely character and one that is more recognised for his literary skills, Walt Whitman. He first began his career as a nurse on the battle zone at Fredericksburg during the American Civil War, where he found his brother recovering from a facial injury. Moved by the suffering of the wounded men around him, he volunteered to work as a nurse. After being placed in charge of a trainload of causalities transferring to hospitals in the capital, Washington, and determined to stay only a few days, he decided to remain for the duration of the war caring for the wounded and dying soldiers. Later he said that he gained more from the men he cared for than they from him. It was during this period that he wrote, The Wound Dresser, which describes his service as a nurse during the bloody years of the civil war. This poem has been descried as “an eloquent and passionate celebration of caring, certainly one of the canon of poems about nursing” (American Association for the History of Nursing 2018).
These are only four of the many who over the centuries have provide care in wars, compassionately and altruistically. There have been many more who are long forgotten, and there many nurses around the world continuing to provide much needed care despite the dangers they face themselves. So on this year’s International Nurses Day please remember those who are striving to secure the health for their own people.
The Wound Dresser(Verse 4 and 5)
“Bearing the bandages, water and sponge,
Straight and swift to my wounded I go,
Where they lie on the ground after the battle brought in,
Where their priceless blood reddens the grass, the ground,
Or to the rows of the hospital tent, or under the roof’d hospital,
To the long rows of cots up and down each side I return,
To each and all one after another I draw near, not one do I miss,
An attendant follows holding a tray, he carries a refuse pail,
Soon to be fill’d with clotted rags and blood, emptied, and fill’d again.
I onward go, I stop,
With hinged knees and steady hand to dress wounds,
I am firm with each, the pangs are sharp yet unavoidable,
One turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy! I never knew you,
Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you, if that would save you.”
This week, ARA is celebrating NZ Sign Language Week! Sign Language week is designed to highlight this fantastic language, and encourages us all to try and become confident in Aotearoa’s second official language.
So what are you waiting for?
Why is NZSL essential?
NZSL is essential for Deaf people in every environment – whether it be in education, health, workplaces or even at home, to be able to participate actively and equally in society. That’s why this year’s theme for NZSL Week 2022 is ‘NZSL is Essential’.
Click on the link below for videos about why NZSL is essential.
Another lovely person, Sejin Bae, highlights her opinion of why NZSL is essential – which can be found here.
How to celebrate
The theme this year is ‘essential’, There are many fantastic ways to celebrate, learn and grow with sign language – including free online courses, challenges and resources.
There is also a short but brilliant highlight for NZSL in this month’s Waha Kōrero – Ara Student Magazine, found within ARA library and other places throughout campus. Otherwise, you can read it here.
Learn NZSL (free!)
From LearnNZSL.org.nz – topics
Keen to learn, but don’t have the time right now for classes? Have a look at this fantastic free resource for learning NZSL online. The topics cover all basis, and are simple and easy to follow.
Watch, learn and practice NZSL by yourself, or with whānau and friends over the nine topics – and remember, you don’t have to do them in order!
Emmie Bensley, the NZSL Hero for 2022, has performed Six60‘s Pepeha song – all you have to do is record yourself performing this one verse!
If you’re up for a challenge why not give the full song a try? Find the full song below:
NZSL week would love to see people have a go and spread the word- so, film yourself and share by tagging Deaf Aotearoa and use the hashtag #NZSLPepeha during NZSL Week – 9th to 15th May 2022!
There’s prizes!! They have giveaways from Six60 – which are pepeha booklets! First in, first serve when you share your video! Come and give it a go!
Why not try and sign your name – then teach others to have a go? Find the PDF poster under NZSL resources or watch a video of the NZSL alphabet.
Learn and have fun with the NZSL video game!
Sign Ninja is a super fun online game that helps you learn NZSL on the go. The game is based on the true history of NZSL, with the ‘Sign Ninja’ navigating their way through a labyrinth, to find the Great Hall of Communication. You can play for free on any computer, tablet and smart phone. Play now through the Sign Ninja website.
Introduce your whānau, friends or colleagues to NZSL
Want to learn with the whānau? Besides all the resources listed above, why not look at the Youtube channel of Deaf Aotearoa?
There is fantastic videos for all ages, including daily challenges ( found under videos) music videos and other quick content.
First Signs is a fantastic resource to get your little one to start learning NZSL, and has great resources for learning to develop communication and literacy skills.
Do the ‘sign of the day‘ , through the NZSL dictionary, which also includes a variety of topics, videos and quick facts. This is also available on tablets an phones. See how many words you can learn – and then, how confident you are in sentences!
Want more structure? Why not try the Ministry of Education’s ‘Thumbs up!’ NZSL introductory sign language course? These printable units, worksheets and videos, are great for anyone who wants to learn a full course.
These are designed for students in years 7–8 working at curriculum levels 1 and 2. Having said that, anyone can use them and they are definitely helpful.
There is also a bucket load of suggestions and resources through the Ministry of Education’s focus page found here.
NZSL Resources
There are a range of useful New Zealand Sign Language resources on the Deaf Aotearoa website, including the ‘Let’s talk’ printable booklets with 25 signs to learn at work, with your family, Māori concepts, for medical situations, and for the weekend. On here, you will also find printable posters, which are perfect for learning NZSL with the whānau at home.
Sample of some of the ‘Let’s talk’ series resource booklets
Let’s delve into NZ Music month by looking into some featured artists – both upcoming and established – New artist Tarn PK, and a nostalgic look at The Exponents, and events that are happening around Christchurch and TimaruduringNZ Music Month.
Who is Tarn PK?
Tarn PK – is songwriter, musician and producer, who completed his BCM from Massey in 2021.
Originally from Ōtautahi (Christchurch), he now lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Checkout his new single ‘Streetnoise‘ here! Available from March 2022.
Photo Supplied by Tarn PK
A couple of Tarn’s songs have made it onto a New French Comedy series called ‘Standing up’. Available through Netflix.
Tarn underplays this achievement. “My songs were used in episodes 2 and 6 which you can see in the credits, however it is very hard to hear the songs played.”
For a 21-year-old Kiwi, getting his music on a global network is no mean feat! Let’s support this talented artist in Aotearoa for NZ Music Month and in the future.
Poster. Courtesy of Mushroom records ty. Ltd. Australia
If you need a free studio to record your version of Victoria. Tūranga – The Central Library of the Christchurch City Libraries, has a studio available!
Unfortunately, the Exponents were to tour in April 2022, but this has now been postponed to early 2023.
Photo from 1984, courtesy Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd. Australia.Photo from 1982, John Adams
Picture of Basement the pre-cursor to The Exponents band. Picture of Basement Brian Jones, Jordan Luck, Steve Jones, Myles Richardson, Michael Jones.
In memory of Myles Richardson who passed this year, 1962-2022. Love to Inez.
What’s on this May Music Month
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante. on Unsplash
Music Month at Christchurch City Libraries
Check out What’s on in Christchurch City Libraries (page 39). this has a great list of things happening, and there is also a write up about the music studio!
Support Local
Keen to support local artists by purchasing their music? Why not have a look at Band Camp? Here, you can listen to local artists (both established and newcomers), purchase their music/pre releases and merchandise they have on offer! So what are you waiting for? Another link here.
Ryan Neville & Midnight Blues Band LIVE – Geraldine
The Ryan Neville Show Band is a 5 piece band that weave the tapestry through the decades of the greatest musical entertainers of our time.
Support the original creators of NZ music Month! On their website which can be found here– you will find a full list of gigs, merchandise, videos, stories, record stores and more! So what are you waiting for?
Events for South Canterbury
Want to see what is happening around the South of Canterbury?
Have a look at the Events Calendar for the South Canterbury districts! Check out the FEATURED events and the full event calendar – but you can also have a look at the visits and attractions page. There may be something new you weren’t expecting to see.
Stand Together 
Stop Bullying 
Jon and Charlotte: Uprising by Nic Low. It is a Māori perspective about tramping, climbing and long distance journeys over the old Pounamu trails that exist in the South Island. Great book, informative, insightful and from a different non European perspective which is rare in this genre. Cha adds ‘I got it for my husband initially believing it was a mountaineering book, but it is a fascinating learning journey. I hadn’t been hooked on a book this much in a while, I just couldn’t stop until I reached the last page and I wished there had been more.’ 
Ara Library Blog 