An interactive children’s book that shows tamariki they can be confident, competent and connected to their culture and the world around them will see its soft launch at the upcoming two-day Wāhine Summit at Matariki at Ohauiti’s Eagle Ridge Country Estate.
Written by Stacey Mareroa-Roberts and illustrated by Travis Orams, Brooklyn Builds a Bridge is a future fantasy adventure for children aged 5-12 that draws on Māori culture and is inspired by real life experiences. It shows children that with radical imagination, they can find their inner awesomeness and share their great ideas and gifts with others.
The local author, Stacey Mareroa-Roberts, is a mother of three from Te Puna in Tauranga. She is a writer, poet international speaker, and the creative director of Ignite Your Gift. Stacey is a passionate Wāhine Māori with the superpower of visionary storytelling to inspire, connect and empower others and share their gifts with others for success.
In her graduating year at the University of Waikato, where she conjoined Law and Social Science degrees with a Major in Iwi/Māori history, Stacey won the Huia Publishing Prize for Top Student in faculty and Excellence in History (2011) but she didn’t take it up at the time. Now, 18 years later, after a career in law and business development she has written and self-published her own piece of local “herstory.”
Brooklyn Builds a Bridge brings awareness to local places and spaces within Tauranga Moana through a little girl’s eyes. It celebrates the rich local Māori culture and history within Tauranga Moana and uses visual stories to imagine and create a future that includes Matauranga Māori knowledge and traditions.
“It’s written for the readers of the future, knowing that books can inspire and change minds but also transform. By connecting our young people with our books and an author and character that is representative of them, we can help them see the world from a different viewpoint,” Stacey says.
“I want to encourage young girls and boys to dream big, develop confidence and embrace the skills and gifts of various characters and people in the book to help them achieve their goals.”
Brooklyn Builds a Bridge is created to be enjoyed with family or school peers and a QR code offers an extra multi-sensory magical experience so kids can look at the pictures or follow along to Stacey’s voice and explore the book themselves, even if they don’t know how to read all the words yet. It also includes personal practice and reflective wellbeing resources for young people to apply in their daily lives.
“The plan is to create a series of 5 signature books, and to make special author appearances at schools where reading in the home is not a daily habit, and conscious pronunciation of Te Reo Māori is not a common effort,” Stacey explains.
“We want to make the books accessible for everyone and we have a special place for local kids who are on a journey to learning about te Reo Māori and Māori culture or are looking to connect in a more meaningful way for belonging to our special place,” she says.
About the Book
Brooklyn Builds a Bridge will Initially be available as a soft cover children’s book with a RRP of $29,99. The intention is to develop a hardcover book for school classroom libraries, a full Te Reo version, and a signature series of 5 books to show kids that they have the power to overcome challenges, make a difference and change/impact their world.
The interactive online version of Brooklyn Builds a Bridge, with contributions from Jeremy Hantler and Nathan Pettigrew, will be launched between July and September 2022. The intention is that the collaboration will build a deeper connection to learning through music and connection to our environment, so both young and older people not only feel a sense of pride, but also guardianship to look after our special areas within and connected to our big blue backyard – for generations to come.
Stacey also recognises that great writers and stories can come from anywhere, so she wants to donate one in every 10 books to local Hauora and community organisations such as Women’s Refuge, Awhina House and Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services giving everyone a chance to gain a sense of belonging from Brooklyn Builds a Bridge, and a place to call home.
About the Wāhine Summit at Matariki
The 2022 Wāhine Summit at Matariki is a 2-day positive and inspiring empowerment retreat to practice personal and professional development skills. The summit will be presented by Stacey Mareroa-Roberts and is powered by 120 Legacy Limited, Ignite Your Gift. It will be held at Eagle Ridge Country Estate on Ohauiti Road, Tauranga on June 25 and 26. Tickets are available here.
