Te Motunui Epa - Rachel Buchanan (2022)
In a story about ‘the power of art to help us find a way through the darkness’, Rachel Buchanan examines how five interconnected tōtara panels, carved by Te Ātiawa in the 1700s, were swept off to New York, Geneva and London and came to change international law on the protection and repatriation of stolen cultural treasures.
About this book
By placing these taonga/tūpuna at the centre of the story, Rachel Buchanan (Taranaki, Te Ātiawa) presents a vivid narrative, richly illustrated, that draws on newly released government records to tell a story of art, ancestors and power.
Watch interviews with the author and find out more.
Publication details
R. Buchanan, Te Motunui Epa (Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 2022).
This book is part of a series marking the publication of Books of Mana (Otago University Press, 2025). It builds on the project Te Takarangi: Celebrating Māori publications and adds 30 titles to a selected list of 150 non-fiction books, led by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga in collaboration with Royal Society Te Apārangi.