A book originally published in English in 2006 by Ōtaki author and journalist Queenie Rikihana-Hyland has been re-published in te reo Māori.

The new version of Manawa Hine was launched on Monday (December 7) to a large crowd of whānau, friends and contributors at Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s Te Ara a Tāwhaki lecture theatre.

Queenie says she’s delighted to see the book in te reo Måori.

“I’ve always wanted to see it in te reo, because the stories are about strong Māori women,” she says.

The title literally means “stout-hearted women”.

Manawa Hine tells the stories of four young women – none more than 25 years old – who had to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to survive. And all the stories involve swimming in the sea.

They include Kahe Te Rau o Te Rangi, who swam from Kāpiti Island to the mainland with a baby on her back; Hinepoupou, who swam from Kāpiti Island across Cook Strait; Hūria Mātenga, who saved the lives of nine men from a sinking ship; and Pania, who finally found love after years of abuse from her elderly husband.

Queenie say the book is “faction” – part fact, part fiction. She knows the true elements of the stories, but she felt the instinct to write what was not known from her heart, as if her tipuna were speaking to her.

The book has been translated from English by Ani Makaere, who teaches Māori law and philosophy at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. It’s illustrated by Levin artist Sarah Wairau.

The book is available from Te Wånanga o Raukawa and online at wanganga.com