Bilingual e-book teaches tamariki about tsunami

Tamariki can now immerse themselves in the story of what to do in an earthquake and potential tsunami threat thanks to a new bilingual digital resource launched today at Richmond School in Maraenui.
 
The Te Hīkoi a Rūaumoko – Rūaumoko’s Walk e-book is the latest evolvement of a printed bilingual children’s picture book created in 2016 by a Hawke’s Bay rōpū (collective) and based on Ngāti Kahungunu legends and language.
 
The book tells the story of Rūaumoko as told by Te Whatahoro Jury from Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairarapa, and won a Māori Language Award from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission).
 
Project manager Emily Campbell, from Massey University’s Joint Centre for Disaster Research, said the original Te Hīkoi a Rūaumoko book was designed to help tamariki understand what to do during and after a long or strong earthquake.

She hoped the digital version would continue this legacy.
 
“By developing the original book into a digital resource, we’ve been able to include animation, sound and pop-up boxes with more information to create an immersive storytelling experience, while upholding the language, essence and mana of the printed version,” Ms Campbell said.
 
“New Zealand’s entire coastline is at risk from tsunami so it’s vital our tamariki know what to do.
 
“We know this will be a valuable te reo Māori resource for our whānau across Aotearoa in teaching children the correct actions to take in a fun, interactive way.
 
“Although the te reo Māori in this story uses some Ngāti Kahungunu kupu, it was created for the use and benefit of all people of Aotearoa.”
 
Richmond School principal Shane Foster said the school had always been proactive in preparing tamaraiki for emergencies, practising their tsunami hīkoi to their safe location in Taradale.
 
“We need to think about the safety of our kids and our staff; we need to pracitise so we know the challenges we might face.”
 
Ms Campbell said the project was a collaborative effort between Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board, Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, EIT: Te Ūranga Waka, Ministry of Education, Te Puni Kōkiri, East Coast LAB, Flip Design and The Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University.
 
“We couldn’t have completed this project without the input and hard work of our entire project rōpū, and I particularly want to thank Te Hīranga Rū QuakeCoRE for funding the project.” 
 
Te Hīkoi a Rūaumoko – Rūaumoko’s Walk is available here

15 December 2020

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