Taku Ikura Tuatahi | My First Ikura

A gentle and powerful story that reclaims the sacredness of a girl’s first ikura (period) through a Māori lens — celebrating connection, ceremony and whakapapa. Rooted in te ao Māori, My First Ikura and the reo Māori translation Taku Ikura Tuatahi is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that follows a young girl’s first period, guided by the support of her whānau. More than a story of physical change, it celebrates womanhood as a sacred rite of passage.

• First of its kind in Aotearoa: Addresses first menstruation through a Māori cultural framework.
• Culturally affirming: Emphasises ceremony, family support and ancestral wisdom – also includes a specially written karakia for families to learn together.
• Beautifully produced: With premium finishes and lush, full-colour illustrations using traditional earth pigments (kōkōwai).
• Created by recognised Māori creatives: Builds trust and demand from readers seeking authentic Indigenous voices.
• Education-friendly: Supports conversations in kura, classrooms and at home about periods, wellbeing and identity.

Written by award-winning storyteller Qiane Matata-Sipu and illustrated by acclaimed Māori artist Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, this unique pukapuka brings cultural grounding, aroha and mātauranga to the bookshelf. This book is perfect for homes, schools, kura kaupapa, libraries and community spaces. My First Ikura / Taku Ikura Tuatahi fills a long-overdue gap in children's publishing in Aotearoa.

Author

Qiane Matata-Sipu is a trailblazer, a storytelling leader and cultural disruptor based in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland. Resonating deeply with modern readers seeking diverse voices and cultural wisdom, her books (and NUKU podcast) are more than stand alone titles; they’re part of a wider movement that promotes self-worth, community connection and a blueprint for thriving through Indigenous female knowledge. She wrote, photographed and first published NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women, shortlisted for the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, and her most recent children’s book Ngā Kupenga a Nanny Rina (published by Penguin) won a 2024 Storylines Notable Book Award (te reo Māori) and was shortlisted in the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Recognised for her powerful voice, Qiane’s leadership is rooted in a clear, personal purpose: to amplify the stories of marginalised people and change the narrative for future generations. For more information, visit www.qiane.co.nz

Illustrator

Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) is an artist of Māori, British, and Danish ancestry based in Pōneke / Wellington. A descendant of matakite and healers, she draws inspiration from her tūpuna and the natural world around her.
Her work combines digital and traditional mediums, weaving together kowhaiwhai, native flora, and themes of mana wahine, kaitiakitanga, and ancestral healing.