Publications

Polynation

NZ$30.00

Fa'afetai's poems stretch the mind and the heart, with political crispness, gentle romantic musings, and, above all, deep connection to his family and his home.

Polynation is an exquisite book of poetry written and bound by Fa'afetai Ta'asē and discovered after his passing by his sister Rev, Alofa Ta'asē Lale, QSM. 

About the poet

Fa'afetai Ta‘asē was born on 8 July 1965, the son of Vaotupu and Levine Ta'asē. The family lived in Cannons Creek and was well known in Porirua, contributing to the community as teachers, church leaders and artists.

Fa‘afetai had cerebral palsy and spent his early years in and out of hospital. Porirua was his home, and he was educated there and in Wellington. Fa‘afetai started out as a performance poet in the 1980s. His work explores themes of identity, family, love, faith and politics with a New Zealand-born Pacific lens. He writes with a sharp eye and a warm heart.

Fa‘afetai died unexpectedly in October 2022. He was laid to rest with his parents at Whenua Tapu Cemetery just outside Porirua.

The story of this book

After Fa'afetai died, his sister Alofa found a bound collection of his poems. The collection was laid out like a book, and Alofa knew in that moment it was important to share his life’s work with others.

In publishing this collection, we honour a poet, a storyteller and a true son of Porirua.

Tai’s poems have been laid out in Times New Roman, his favourite font, and in the structures in which he wrote them.

Illustrator Sam Sakaria drew inspiration from Tai’s poems to create the imagery in the book. As well as through his artwork, Sam is woven into this book as one of Alofa’s former students and a member of their family’s church.

With thanks

Our thanks to Working for Ōtepoti Women, Porirua City Council (Creative Communities Scheme), and Pelorus Trust for funding support.

ISBN

Hardcover - 978-0-473-69850-8

Softcover - 978-0-473-69849-2

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My Sore Throat

NZ$27.00

Small Bear is feeling a little off – ​ but is it a cold or a cough? Or is it something more....

A beautifully illustrated book that explains what happens when your doctor takes a throat swab! 

Designed to demystify a medical laboratory process for little ones and their whānau.

About the author

Born into the age when there were few vaccinations and antibiotics, Dr Heather Brooks' childhood included many experiences of infectious diseases. Thus began her fascination with the microbes that make us ill. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Surrey (UK), she went on to complete a PhD in Medical Microbiology at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, University of London (UK). 

Plans for a career in medical research were stymied by an economic downturn and, almost by accident, she turned to the diagnostic medical laboratory sector for a secure form of employment. However, the call back to research would not go away, eventually compelling her to seek out a new life in New Zealand where she has been happily researching and teaching medical microbiology as a university academic since 1977. 

For the past 30 years, Dr Brooks has taught in the University of Otago Medical Laboratory Science programme.

About the illustrator

Heavily influenced by Eric Carle and his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Terry Gilliam and his Monty Python animations, the Dadaists, Surrealism, outsider art and the pre-Raphaelites, creativity has always been present for Lisa McComish. She applied to the Dunedin School of Art on a whim and experimented with the diverse genres before settling on textiles for the variety of hands-on processes involved. 

Lisa is constantly making and creating to keep her hands and mind busy, and alongside her largest arts project to date – raising her own cubs – she is working on an anthology of found words poems, doing hand embroidery and ceramics.

With thanks

Our thanks to Working for Ōtepoti Women, Dunedin City Council, and UNESCO Dunedin City of Literature for funding support.

ISBN - 978-0-473-68453-2

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Fun things

My Sore Throat postcard

NZ$2.50 - NZ$15.00

Need to send a postcard to someone? Looking for a Christmas card with a difference?

One of our limited print run My Sore Throat postcards might be just right.

Choose from seven of Lisa McComish's illustrations - or get the whole set for the price of six!

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My Sore Throat bookmarks

NZ$1.00 - NZ$5.00

Everyone needs a bookmark from time to time, whether it's to keep your place in your favourite book, your latest report, or to slip into the reports you're reading for work...

Choose from seven of Lisa McComish's gorgeous illustrations from My Sore Throat - or get the whole set!

Buy five and we'll throw in the other two for free.

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