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March 10, 2026
#lifestyle: New Bilingual Alphabet Book Celebrates Strength of Wāhine
Matthew Tukaki
Posted On March 10, 2026
A new bilingual Māori alphabet book celebrating the strength, identity and leadership of wāhine has been launched in Aotearoa ahead of International Women’s Day.
The book, W is for Wahine Toa, has been written by Māori-Pasifika storyteller Qiane Matata-Sipu and introduces readers to te reo Māori through an alphabet format that explores qualities linked to courage, resilience and self-belief.
While designed in the style of an alphabet book, the kaupapa behind the publication reaches far beyond tamariki. Each letter highlights values intended to help nurture confident and empowered wāhine, making the book both an educational resource and a source of inspiration for readers of all ages.
The launch event drew strong interest and quickly sold out, bringing together wāhine who embody the themes explored in the book. Speakers included athlete, coach and broadcaster Jenny-May Clarkson, author Hana Tapiata and artist Te Kahureremoa, whose performance blended traditional taonga pūoro with contemporary music.
Matata-Sipu has spent more than two decades advocating for Indigenous communities and supporting kaupapa connected to mana motuhake, including involvement with movements such as Protect Ihumātao and NUKU. The experiences gathered during that time helped shape the lessons and reflections woven through the pages of the book.
The publication also features artwork by renowned artist Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, whose illustrations help bring the themes of strength, wisdom and leadership to life.
W is for Wahine Toa adds to Matata-Sipu’s growing body of work focused on Indigenous storytelling and wāhine leadership. Her earlier publication NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women gathered portraits and stories of Indigenous wāhine from across the world and was shortlisted for the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for illustrated non-fiction.
She has also produced several children’s titles exploring Māori cultural knowledge, including My First Ikura / Taku Ikura Tuatahi, a puberty guide that explains menstruation through a Māori cultural lens, and Ngā Kupenga a Nanny Rina / Nanny Rina’s Amazing Nets, which celebrates traditional knowledge passed down through generations.
Matata-Sipu has received widespread recognition for her work amplifying Māori and Pasifika voices. She was awarded the Women of Influence Arts and Culture Award in 2021 and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023 for her services to the arts.
Launching alongside global celebrations of International Women’s Day, W is for Wahine Toa reflects the broader kaupapa of recognising the leadership and influence of women in shaping communities and the future.
Published by QIANE+co and distributed by Bateman Books, the book is now available in bookstores and gift shops across the country.
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