Author(s): A.W. Reed

New Zealand Non-fiction

The Reed Book of Maori Mythology is a new and updated version of A.W. ReedÂs classic A Treasury of Maori Folklore (1963). These vivid and entertaining stories have been revised by Ross Calman, and can now be enjoyed by a new generation of readers.

The book tells the stories of the creation of the universe, of Rangi and Papa and the children of earth and sky, of the demigods Maui and Tawhaki, of supernatural monsters and fairies, and of heroes and lovers. For centuries Maori were isolated from the rest of the Polynesian world and subsequently developed a remarkably rich, and in many ways unique, mythology. Far from being just entertainment, these stories are part of a living, breathing culture. They are part of our heritage, both Maori and Pakeha.