"A book to treasure for young and old, Robyn Kahukiwa's Nga Atua: Maori Gods takes the reader on a beautiful visual journey while imparting simple and effective explanations of the major Maori gods. Robyn introduces the pantheon of Maori gods, and explains the arena of life for which each deity is responsible. For example:Tumatauenga is the greatest warrior atua. His powers are extreme strength and courage. He fights for truth and justice. This book is a beautiful introduction to some of the unique deities that are part of Aotearoa New Zealand's cultural story, and affirms their continued relevance today."--

Meet the gods, demigods and heroes of the Maori people of Aotearoa in this breathtaking, large-scale illustrated book for children. Margaret Mahy Book of the Year 2022 Elsie Locke Award for Non-fiction 2022 Russell Clark Award for Illustration 2022 Before the beginning there was nothing. No sound, no air, no colour - nothing. TE KORE, NOTHING. No one knows how long this nothing lasted because there was no time. However, in this great nothing there was a sense of waiting. Something was about to happen. Meet the gods, demigods and heroes of the Maori world, and explore Aotearoa's exciting legends from the Creation to the Migration. Fascinating, beautiful and informative, this once-in-a-generation compendium deserves a place on every bookshelf.

The Polynesian concept of atua -- of gods, figurative objects and associated beliefs -- developed over thousands of years and spread throughout the region. The superb examples of sculpture illustrated in this volume provide an island-by-island insight into this rich and intriguing heritage. Intrepid seafarers first discovered Polynesia 3000 years ago and, gradually, the region came to be inhabited by the communities established by these explorers. Across central and eastern Polynesia, from the Cook, Austral, Society and Marquesas islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, Tahiti, Rapa Nui, the Hawaiian Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand, unique, yet coherent, societies developed. With that a complex and sustaining spiritual world came into being. Sculptures of ancestral gods connected the Polynesians with Te Po, the supernatural world, giving them strength and sacred knowledge. A hierarchy of supernatural beings -- atua -- resides within Te Po, inhabiting animals and birds, or particular aspects of the landscape. Among the atua were the deified spirits of human ancestors, particularly those famous for their invincibility, political strength or navigation skill. Polynesians created, revered and communicated with their atua in a relationship of profound intimacy. This way of life suffered a violent rupture with the arrival of Christianity in the 18th century. It is this volume's privilege to chronicle the integral role played by the atua in Polynesian daily life through images and text that convey the power of a still-living culture.

A comprehensive history of the Assemblies of God church in American Samoa. O le tala'aga o le tapuaiga o le Fa'apotopotoga a le Atua i Samoa - Amerika Samoa.

This book explores the first encounters between Samoans and Europeans up to the arrival of the missionaries, using all available sources for the years 1722 to the 1830s, paying special attention to the first encounter on land with the Laperouse expedition. Many of the sources used are French, and some of difficult accessibility, and thus they have not previously been thoroughly examined by historians. Adding some Polynesian comparisons from beyond Samoa, and reconsidering the so-called 'Sahlins-Obeyesekere debate' about the fate of Captain Cook, 'First Contacts' in Polynesia advances a hypothesis about the contemporary interpretations made by the Polynesians of the nature of the Europeans, and about the actions that the Polynesians devised for this encounter: wrapping Europeans up in 'cloth' and presenting 'young girls' for 'sexual contact'. It also discusses how we can go back two centuries and attempt to reconstitute, even if only partially, the point of view of those who had to discover for themselves these Europeans whom they call 'Papalagi'. The book also contributes an additional dimension to the much-touted 'Mead-Freeman debate' which bears on the rules and values regulating adolescent sexuality in 'Samoan culture'. Scholars have long considered the pre-missionary times as a period in which freedom in sexuality for adolescents predominated. It appears now that this erroneous view emerged from a deep misinterpretation of Laperouse's and Dumont d'Urville's narratives.

" ... An official collection of Māori historical traditions"--BIM.

A fully revised edition of the authoritative work of Maori myths and legends. Esteemed editor Ross Calman (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Toa, Kai Tahu) has further revised the Reed Book of Maori Mythology to blend story, source and commentary into a captivating collection. Published in a distinguished hardback, this work will provide a valuable source of reading and reference for years to come.