The books evolved out of an animated television series, made by production company Production Shed, which started airing on Maori TV in late September. The stories were developed by former Te Papa Senior Writer and He Paki Taonga i a Maui co-producer David Brechin-Smith and Te Papa Te Reo Writer,Ranea Aperahama, with the help of writers Victoria Cleal, Matthew Grainger, Frances Samuel and Jen Craddock and translator Stephanie Tibble. The tales were illustrated by Munro Te Whata, Te Hana Goodyer, Izzy Joy Te Aho-White, Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, Josh Morgan, Miriama Grace-Smith, Ariki Brightwell, and Reweti Arapere. Reweti Arapere (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Porou and Ngati Tuwharetoa) holds a Master of Maori Visual Arts from Toioho ki Apiti School of Maori Studies, Massey University, and has exhibited extensively both throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. His art practice is contextualised through drawing and he is committed to representing customary Maori narratives in a contemporary light. Ariki Brightwell (Te Whanau-a-Ruataupere, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngati Mutunga, Rangitane, Ngati Raukawa, Te Arawa ki Tuwharetoa, Tahiti, Ra'iatea, Rarotonga) was born in 1989 in Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne) and lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). She graduated from Massey University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Video Communications Design and works at Te Wharewaka o Poneke and as a freelance artist. Ariki says: 'I am an indigenous artist of Maori and Tahitian descent. I spent my entire life practising the arts; it's in my blood. I gather much of my influence in Te Ao Maori from my father Matahi Brightwell, a tohunga whakairo (master carver) who is one of the most renowned Maori artists in Aotearoa. Another medium that inspired my art was eastern/western cartoons and the pop culture I grew up with in the 1990s and early 2000s. The aim of my art is to tell our stories and the whakapapa of the land as our ancestors did. I produce this in the forms of murals, paintings and digital works by incorporating both modern and traditional styles. Being part of this project was a dream come true. I am proud of my heritage and it is an honour to draw our history and the stories of our tipuna.' Te Hana Goodyer (Ngati Raukawa ki te Tonga) graduated from Massey University in 2016. He lives in London, where he works as a product designer for an ecommerce tech start-up. He is an experienced user interface designer who also works as a freelance digital illustrator and animator. Te Hana's areas of focus are kaupapa Maori, hip hop and anime. 'They are my sources of inspiration and influence, which motivate me in my everyday life.' Miriama Grace-Smith (Ngati Hau, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Toa and Ngati Porou) has been creating art for most of her life. Her preferred mediums are painting, printmaking, ta moko, illustration and fashion design. Miriama completed a Certificate in Visual Arts at Whitireia Polytechnic and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Massey University. Miriama's education in the arts encouraged her to pursue a career doing what she loves - making art. Much of her work depicts traditional village life, explores natural phenomena and draws from purakau Maori. Miriama is a member of Maori women's art collective Hine Pae Kura, and has her own streetwear label Foresight Clothing. Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngati Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Rongomaiwahine, Ngai Tahu, Ngati Irakehu) is a graphic artist with a diploma in Visual Arts (UCOL) and a Bachelor of Design (Hons) majoring in illustration from Massey University. Izzy was born in 1988 and grew up in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and the Wairarapa, where her parents passed on to her a keen interest in native plants and birdlife. Her work explores themes of mana wahine/the sacred feminine, kaitiakitanga, nature and darkness, while her artistic inspirations come from an eclectic combination of artists and illustrators, old and new. Izzy lives in Wellington, where she freelances as an illustrator in a variety of mediums, both digital and traditional. Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho is a self-taught freelance artist of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, Ngai Tahu and Ngati Kahungunu descent based in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland. They also whakapapa to Samoa, Tahiti, Ireland, Scotland and Denmark. They have worked with the University of Waikato, Auckland Pride, The Wireless, Ara Taiohi, Pantograph Punch and Gender Minorities Aotearoa, amongst others. Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhaakata) is a picture book illustrator who lives in Wellington with his family and a vast hoard of picture books. His digital illustrations are created to evoke the charm and quirkiness of the classic picture books and animations he grew up with (and still loves). He is very proud that many of his projects, including the award-winning picture books he has produced with writer Sacha Cotter, have been from a Maori perspective. He also considers himself very fortunate to have worked on this project, especially sharing a story from his ancestral rohe. Munro Te Whata (Nga Puhi, Ngati Porou) is Maori Niuean and is from South Auckland. He began drawing at a very young age with his cousins. After dropping out of high school (because all he did was draw) he found animation school. He was trained in traditional paper animation and later worked on Bro'town as an animator. He then worked at Maori TV and that led to him giving up on animation. After a year of travel he decided to get a degree in creative writing and he also started getting illustrating work, which he has been doing ever since.
