Books published by Oratia Media

Historian Matthew Wright goes to the heart of how the First World War affected the lives of ordinary New Zealanders. The book analyses what it was like for New Zealand soldiers at the two main battle fronts where they fought, and frames it with the social effects back home. Beginning with an outline of pre-war New Zealand society, Wright portrays the extraordinary world of war into which its young men plunged as they entered the baptism of fire at Gallipoli. The end of innocence that the withdrawal from the Dardanelles implied led to a harder, more fatalistic approach in the theatre of mechanised death that was the Western Front. By wars end, hope and glory had faded, replaced by a new view of military heroism -- in a country forever changed.

The post-1945 migration to the cities by Māori transformed Aotearoa New Zealand forever. Before the Second World War 90% of Māori lived in rural tribal communities; by the mid-1970s almost 80% lived in the cities perhaps the fastest movement of any population from traditional homelands to the cities. Economic opportunity improved the lot of many but created huge disruption and challenges, making this a story of expectation, need, loss, isolation and revival. Exploring what being Māori means today, bestselling author Bradford Haami looks back to the experience of the first migrants, and traces the development of an urban Māori identity over the following years. Urban Māori intersperses first-person accounts of migrants with readable history and numerous photos, touching on the full spectrum of the migration experience including ground-breaking accounts of trade training schemes, urban marae, social deprivation and the Māori experience in Australia.

Hongi Hikas invasion of the Rotorua area in 1823 is one of the most dramatic and daring assaults in New Zealand history. Armed with muskets, Hongis forces had roamed the North Island seeking utu (revenge) for past slights. Te Arawa, inland and with their island stronghold of Mokoia on Lake Rotorua, felt impregnable. They did not count on Hongis determination which led to an epic portage of canoes to the lake shores, from which an attack on Mokoia became inevitable. This book not only tells the story with Staffords flair and sense of drama, but is also richly illustrated, including modern photos of the locations depicted. Launch of the book in 2007 occasioned a major meeting of Ngāpuhi and Te Arawa that aided reconciliation for the past conflict.

This gripping book captures the evolution by trial and error of the New Zealand army, alongside those of Australia and Canada, from the Boer War in South Africa to involvement in the First World War. It tells the story of citizen soldiers becoming professional as they learned the lessons of the Gallipoli landings and applied these to the Western Front earning them the status of the fighting elite in the British armies in France. Richly illustrated with historical photographs and maps, The Anzac Experience blends social analysis and military history in a compelling combination. In its research and writing, Christopher Pugsley walked every New Zealand battlefield on Gallipoli and the Western Front.

We have tattooing in the blood in New Zealand, and styles worn with pride here in Aotearoa are appreciated worldwide by admirers of beautiful design. And in the early 2010s, tattooing is going through a renaissance. Chris Hoult immersed himself in the Kiwi tattoo scene from 2011 and 2012, and brought writer-musician Steve Forbes along for the ride. What they record in New Zealand Tattoo is the view from the studios of New Zealand now, with profiles of leading tattooists including Merv O'Connor, Gordon Hatfield, Monique Mataga, Jason Parkinson and Te Rangitu Netana. Combining stunning photography and snappy text, New Zealand Tattoo is a contemporary celebration of tattooing here in its three rich traditions: Ta Moko (Maori tattoo), Tatau (Pacific Islands tattoo) and Tattoo (European and Asian forms).

Going to school is a misery for Sean. Whatever he does to avoid the school bully, Mark Thomas and his mates always catch up with him. Then the students join Warrior Kids, a programme that teaches leadership and self-control. So begins a journey for Mark and Sean that has a predictable outcome for one boy and a surprise for the other.Tim Tipene sensitively depicts the reality of bullying-and strategies to address it-for children on both sides of the problem.