Hine and the Tohunga Portal
Hine and the Tohunga Portal is a fast-paced fantasy adventure published by Huia. Hine and her brother, Hōhepa, unwittingly step through a portal into an ancient realm inhabited by the atua Māori (Māori deities), Kea bird tribes, patupaiarehe (fairy people), moa and giant eagles. This world is in turmoil as evil sorcerer Kae has built a cursed army and intends to rule this world and everything in it. He sees the opportunity to dominate the modern world as well, by kidnapping Hōhepa and using his life force to reopen the portal between the worlds. This sets Hine on a quest to learn ancient knowledge from the goddesses Hineteiwaiwa and Mahuika and her ancestors, find the medicine to revoke the curse on the warriors and gain the support of the Kea and patupaiarehe to fight Kae and rescue Hōhepa.
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“Hine and the Tohunga Portal would make a superb Read Aloud for Year 6 students and up, with all the topics that could turn into their own studies – NZ flora and fauna, extinct native birds, Māori legends, traditional Māori foods, and even the Treaty of Waitangi.
Te reo is strong in this novel, but in such a way that even if you don’t know much te reo yourself, you are learning it as you are reading. With a plot so chocka with full-on action, likeable and perfectly despicable characters, I might finish this review and begin Hine and the Tohunga Portal all over again!” - Adele Broadbent at What Book Next
“Some of these characters are cheeky and sly, or cute and cuddly, but in spite of this, the story maintains an increasingly dark edge with Kae’s wicked intentions constantly returning to overshadow the warm edges of the narrative. By turns endearing and brutal, Hine and The Tohunga Portal has all the elements readers would expect of a mythic apocalyptic middle grade novel.” - Dan Rabarts at Kete Books
This is a story you can give to tamariki Māori knowing full well that it will uplift them, their culture and their worldview. Really beautifully done and definitely recommended. - Chloe Ferguson at @tales_with_thomas
I loved this book so much! It was an entire adventure! Not only is this book entertaining and engaging, but it’s also deeply ingrained in Māori culture and history. I loved that te reo Māori was used throughout. I can’t wait to share this book with my nieces who are Māori and in this age range; though the book is great for all ages! - Kealani Netane at @littlepasifikareaders
A fantastic middle-grade novel that weaves in these larger themes into an engaging story for rangatahi and adults (who may or may not be rangatahi at heart!) alike. Rooted in te ao Māori, this is a fantastic story that is at once a pacy adventure quest and an empowering tale rich in matauranga and taha Māori. - @ns510reads
Awa Wahine offers free returns or exchanges within 30 days of purchase. You can return your product for store credit, a different product, or a refund by emailing ataria@awawahine.com.
