Written in Te reo Māori
Tīraha koutou i te māra a Tūmatauenga Koutou tamarahi pārahi Tūtoko o te rangi, whakaāio whenua.
Awatere; A Soldier's Story
This graphic novel is the story of how Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nuia-Kiwa Ngarimu of 28 Maori Battalion won the VC during World War Two. On 26 March 1943, two weeks before his 24th birthday, Ngarimu led an attack on Point 209, a vital hill at Tebaga Gap in Tunisia.
Under intense mortar and machine gun-fire, he led the assault up the hill, personally destroying two German machine-gun posts on a crest of the hill. Despite being wounded twice during the night, he and his men defended their position from several counter-attacks.
The following morning during a particularly strong counter-attack, Ngarimu was killed. Later the same day, the Germans still on Point 209 surrendered.
Prizes: Winner of Te Kura Pounamu 2011
Paperback
Andrew Burdan
40 pages
H: 210mm W: 297mm
Weight: 220 grams