Bastion Point: 507 Days on Takaparawha is the twenty-eighth book in My New Zealand Story. It was written by Tania Roxborogh. The book was published on January 31, 2017 by Scholastic New Zealand. Bastion Point is the final book in the series first relaunch. It was followed by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith'sDawn Raid.
"Nāku whakaihi i tēnei pukapuka ki ō tātou tīpuna mō ā rātou manawanui."
Book description[]
""I'm writing this by lamplight. That's right. Like Swiss Family Robinson or something. We're up here with no electricity or running water, while just across from us and down the road is the real world." Erica Tito had the perfect summer holiday planned. Then her father decided the whole family would pack up and join the protestors at Bastion Point in Auckland. No way! Instead of spending dreamy summer days training Silver, her horse, Erica and her family have to camp out in tents. At first, everyone thinks the protest will be over quickly, but as weeks turn into months, it becomes clear that Erica will not be going home and, worse, may never see Silver again. Through Erica's heartfelt diary entries we learn about the daily lives of the protestors, listen in on grand speeches and fiery confrontations between the protestors, Ngāti Whātua elders, police and politicians. And we witness the distressing eviction of the occupiers—all seen through the eyes of a Māori girl previously unaware of race and land issues."
"Thanks to history lecturer, Dr Michael Stevens, University of Otago, who is responsible for re-igniting me interest in Māori protest movements and especially Bastion Point. I'm also thankful to the lecturers of Te Tumu Māori Department (University of Otago), for opening the doors to te ao me ngā tikanga Māori. Thanks also to Dr David V. Williams, Professor of Law, University of Auckland, for his time, expertise and listening ear. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Thanks also to James Sukias, NIWA scientist for the Auckland weather readings of 1977 and 1978. The author wishes to thank Creative New Zealand for their assistance in the completion of this book. Writers are only one part of the creation of a book. My heartfelt thanks to Penny Scown, senior editor, Scholastic, who helped me to make this a work of which I am extraordinarily proud. Ko koe te rangatira o te ao pakiwaitara, e hoa."
Notes[]
The cover is a colorized detail of a 1978 photograph titled Ngāti Whātua occupation of Bastion Point.[4]
