The Last Living Cannibal by Airana Ngarewa

Aotearoa in the 1940s, and the Māori men of Taranaki have refused to join the Māori battalion because of the severity of their land confiscations. Koko is the oldest man in the village, a legend within his community - he's lived through the land wars, Parihaka, imprisonment in Dunedin, and they whisper of him as the Last Living Cannibal. Koko dotes on his grandson Blackie, who has lived with him ever since Blackie's mum left in troubling circumstances years earlier.

But the ghosts of the past are bound to come calling, and when they do, they come with muru in mind.

Author Airana Ngarewa (Ngāti Ruanui, Nga Rauru, Ngāruahine) explores reimagined life in Taranaki in 1940s in this fantastic book that is both educational and entertaining.

Ngarewa has a knack for bringing every character to vivid life. He captures every character's energy, personality and flaws perfectly, although sometimes he leans a little too heavily on stereotype.

The story covers some deeply emotional and dark moments of our history. Ngarewa isn't afraid to recount that time, but readers don't linger there long. He infuses the novel with humour and hope. Alongside the intergenerational trauma, the power of love shines through. There's colour and life, gentleness and chaos that will make readers smile.  

Ngarewa is a storyteller. His writing style reminds me of listening to the whaikōrero at a pōwhiri - there's action and cheekiness, hyperbole, a rollercoaster of pace and plenty of tension. 

At times I wanted the story to dive a little deeper, until I remembered this was a novel and not a text book. Ngarewa's inspiration for Koko and the story has me hunting in the library for more about this part of Aotearoa's history.

The Last Living Cannibal is only Ngarewa's second novel. I look forward to his next.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Moa Press