Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi

SHORTLISTED; RUSSELL CLARK AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION, NZ BOOK AWARDS FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS 2026

'A dynamic and beautiful retelling . . . the tightly composed illustrations are wonderfully impactful . . . a powerful story that will captivate a wide range of ages and readers.' Meg Nicoll, Magpies

'Bold colour and design, paired with a simple yet engrossing text. Absolutely stunning. An incredible resource across every strand of the curriculum. I can see it inspiring many of our younger artists and storytellers. It belongs in every home.' Rebecca Lyell, NZ Booklovers

'A feast for the eye on every page. Not only a retelling of this legendary battle but a discovery of Aotearoa itself. Stunning!' Adele Broadbent, What Book Next?

Kupe's voyage to Aotearoa!

Kupe found that a huge, fearsome wheke (octopus) was taking all the fish in the ocean and the people of Hawaiki had nothing to eat.

So Kupe chased that wheke across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean).

Finally Hine-te-Aparangi, Kupe's wife, saw land and a long white cloud: Aotearoa!

Find out what happened when the wheke and Kupe had a massive battle . . .

Perfect for readers who love:
- Aotearoa's earliest stories
- pūrākau about our land
- exciting chase stories
- beautiful, bright illustrations