Anahera: The Mighty Kiwi Māmā by Ruth Paul

Anahera: The Mighty Kiwi Māmā is a delightful true story about a very special Kiwi Māmā. It was written and illustrated by award-winning children’s author Ruth Paul.

Anahera’s story is told through the eyes of a young girl. She tells how she was rescued by forest workers in Taranaki when her forest was being cut down. They took her to Ōtorohanga Kiwi house in the Waikato, where her kuia was a volunteer who helped to weigh and feed her.

Before long, Anahera was successfully courted by a young kiwi male called Rongo. With her mate Rongo, she went on to hatch more than 30 chicks. That’s about two rugby teams worth! And she didn’t stop there. After Rongo was released into the wild, she bonded with Junior, and then Nouveuau. By the time she was old enough to help her kuia at the Kiwi House, Anahera had hatched more than 60 chicks. An incredible breeding record! She was the champion of their breeding programme and had become world famous.

When Anahera was 44 years old, she was chosen to be one of the kiwis to be released into the wild in the hills of Wellington. Kiwi hadn’t lived there for over 150 years. But, through a visionary conservation initiative called Capital Kiwi Project, locals, landowners and iwi had worked hard together for five years trapping stoats in the western hills of Te-Whanganui-a-Tara to make it a safer place for kiwi.

She didn’t want Anahera to go, she would miss her too much! And it was risky. After 40 years in captivity, would Anahera be able to survive in the wild? She need not have worried. This mighty kiwi māmā was tough and strong. She survived and thrived and was reunited with her mate Nouveau, who had been released earlier. Soon there was good news! Her kuia told her Anahera had laid an egg. Currently, Anahera is still out there in the wild, maybe having more babies.

The story of Anahera: The Mighty Kiwi Māmā is told with a touch of humour which children will love. And the lively text makes it a joy to read aloud. The beautiful illustrations really bring it to life: Anahera snuggling up with Rongo with his spiky hairdo in the burrow she built for the two of them, her kuia gently holding Anahera while one of the staff checks and weighs her, and a cute picture of her wee kiwi chick after it had kicked, ripped, and busted its way out of its shell. And Anahera at nighttime, surrounded by beautiful native bush with the glittering ocean in the background and a huge egg in the foreground, the first egg Anahera laid in her new home in the wild.

Anahera’s story is also a celebration of all those who have looked after her and kept her safe , the forestry workers in Taranaki who recued her and brought her to the Ōtorohanga Kiwi house, the staff and volunteers who cared for her there, and everyone who trapped stoats in the western hills of Te-Whanganui-a-Tara as part of the Capital Kiwi Project.

Ruth Paul herself is passionate about conservation and a predator free area has been created on her own property in Mākara where wild kiwi can safely roam.

Using a child’s voice to tell Anahera’s story, showing her helping her kuia at Otorohanga Kiwi House, and telling how Mākara Primary school students, who had also helped with the Capital Kiwi Project got to meet Anahera, will bring home to children that they too could join in the conservation effort and be involved in community led projects. This is so important!

For it is this younger generation and generations to follow who will be needed to look after our endangered kiwi and ensure their survival. This inspiring picture book will help with that. It would be perfect for families to read together.

Reviewer: Lyn Potter

Puffin