The Bone Tree, Airana Ngarewa
The story of two brothers, born and raised in the shadow of Taranaki Maunga, by 'one of Aotearoa's finest writers' (NZ Listener).
Kauri and Black's mum has been gone six months now. Their dad is barely holding on and the threat of child services taking Black looms large. Kauri won't let that happen, and so he embarks on a journey into their family's past. The only way to break the cycle of violence is to understand where it all began. But when an accident brings child services to their door, the race is on for Kauri to save his brother. And he will learn that no matter how brave he is or how strong he is, he cannot do it alone.
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Born and raised in Patea, Airana Ngarewa (Ngati Ruanui, Ngarauru, Ngaruahine) writes about Maori affairs for The Spinoff.
His writing has also been published by RNZ, NZ Herald, Newsroom and Landfall. He won the short story and poetry competitions at the Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards in 2022.
E kore e ka te rakau rewarewa
E kore e ka te ngakau Ngarewa
Media
ReadingRoom devoted the entire launch week to coverage of Airana Ngarewa and his debut novel, The Bone Tree.
Monday: Portrait: Kickboxing schoolteacher and novelist from Pātea
Tuesday: Day in the life of a marae
Wednesday: Exile on main street
Thursday: 'He's a fricken racist' The opening chapter of The Bone tree
WORD Christchurch Festival 2023
CONFLUENCE
Pasifika and Māori excellence, on stage in Ōtautahi and styling up for a celebration of island connections. Don’t miss Airana Ngarewa (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngāruahine) and more. Come celebrate this line up of special talent as they heat up The Piano.
Sat, 26 AUG 2023: 8:30pm - 10:00pm
The Piano, 156 Armagh Street
Admission: $20
AIRANA NGAREWA: THE BONE TREE
Airana Ngarewa’s (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngāruahine) debut novel The Bone Tree is a gritty coming-of-age novel. After the death of their parents, Kauri and Black must find a way to survive. Kauri embarks on a journey into his father’s past, to come to terms with the trauma he’s experienced in his short life, and to break the cycle of violence he fears perpetuating as he raises his younger brother. Airana joins us in conversation with Jessica MacLean (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine).
Sun, 27 AUG 2023: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
The Chamber, The Piano
Admission: FREE
