{"product_id":"te-kaikaukau-the-swimmer","title":"Te Kaikaukau The Swimmer","description":"\u003cp\u003eNovelist, memoirist and playwright Witi Ihimaera - author of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePounamu, Pounamu\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Whale Rider\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e- decided, at the age of eighty, to dive back into the water and spend a year full time at Te Wananga Takiura, immersing himself in his own language, in te reo Maori.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book tells the story of this kaikaukau, this swimmer, and his year i te ao o te reo - of sinking and floating; of loss and shame, connection and wairua; of fathers and teachers, kuia and friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA riveting and revealing memoir,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eTe Kaikaukau | The Swimmer\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esparkles with whaikorero and whakatauki and is written for all - Maori and Pakeha, fluent reo Maori speakers and those for whom the language is still a mystery, a dream, an aspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the story of a Maori New Zealander reclaiming his voice, history and whakapapa in contemporary Aotearoa. Of becoming Witi Ihimaera Smiler and drawing closer to his desire to write a novel in te reo for his beloved father Tom and his tipuna.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auckland University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45368971296802,"sku":"9781776712380","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0052\/0785\/1042\/files\/Copy-of-Book-Template-2026-05-13T105736-462.jpg?v=1778626993","url":"https:\/\/petronella.co.nz\/products\/te-kaikaukau-the-swimmer","provider":"Petronella's Gallery and Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}