$39.99
3 in stock
3 in stock
An incredible memoir by a trailblazing voice in women’s, queer and Maori liberation movements
‘Remarkable. At once heartbreaking and triumphant.’ Patricia Grace
In the 1950s, a young Ngahuia is fostered into a family who believe in hard work and community. Although close to her kuia, she craves more: she wants higher education and refined living. But whanau dismiss her dreams. To them she is just a show-off, always getting into trouble, talking back, experimenting in sexual trespass and running away.
In this fiery and inspiring memoir, Ngahuia te Awekotuku describes what was possible for a restless working-class girl from the pa. After moving to Auckland for university, Ngahuia meets her people among the creatives and outliers. She advocates resistance as a founding member of Nga Tamatoa and the Women’s and Gay Liberation movements, becoming a critical voice in protests from Waitangi to the streets of Wellington.
Hine Toa is an extraordinary memoir about identity and belonging: the story of a girl who grew up with the odds stacked against her but who had the resilience and courage to carve a path of her own.
‘Extraordinary, vivid, riveting. I learned, I laughed and I wept over this book.’ Fiona Kidman
‘Beautifully written and fiercely honest.’ Deborah Challinor
‘Delightful, clever, naughty, sensuous. This timely coming of age memoir by an iconic activist will rouse the rebel in us all. I loved it.’ Tina Makereti
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Imprint: HarperCollins NZ
Publication date: 17/04/2024
Hine Toa
by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
Review by Maia
Since childhood with her kuia on the Pa - spent in catholic schools and the natural springs of Rotorua, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku has always been known as Miss Mohio (know-it-all). Her indomitable search for answers and insatiable curiosity makes the story of her life enchanting, impressive, often harrowing and full of mischief.
This story travels through the brazen & alive activist scene in 1970’s Auckland, as Te Awekotuku finds herself tumbling through various movements with frantic determination. Fascinating personal retellings of formative political moments reveal to us the interpersonal complications and preparations involved in the Land March of 1975, Women’s Liberation 1971 Centennial Parade, Aotearoa’s first pride - ‘Gay Day’ in 1972 and the development of Ngā Tamatoa and their alliance with the Polynesian Panthers. Te Awekotuku played a critical role in these synergetic movements and because of this commitment to an array of communities this story is full of anecdotes connecting plenty of familiar NZ names such as Hone Tuwhare, Witi Ihimaera, Tāme Iti, Marlyn Webb and a peeping tom James K Baxter (that part was wild lol).
The writing is so courageously honest and moving while sneakily feeding you an NZ history lesson through a series of personal relationships and intimate experiences. I couldn’t recommend this book enough!
Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what others are saying:
'Vital to write, vital to publish and vital to read.' Read Paula Morris' full review on Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books.
Read Matariki Williams' interview with Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku on The Spinoff here.
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