28 Oct 2014

Iwi plans history books for tamariki

6:39 am on 28 October 2014

Nga Potiki o Tamapahore in Tauranga says books for Kohanga Reo tamariki based on the tribe's history will be published early next year.

The iwi had been talking to the Ministry of Education about the developing them

Chair of Nga Potiki Trust Colin Reeder said one will focus on a traditional narrative of a family of whales that make their way to Tauranga Harbour.

The story tells how the mother and son arrive into the harbour exhausted and drink from an enchanted spring which turns them into large land masses.

The father whale then follows looking for his family and also drinks from the spring which turns him into another mass.

Mr Reeder said the trust has been working with the Tauranga Kindergarten Association and the book is not far away from being published.

Every Maori community has traditional stories it can pass on to the next generation, he said.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs