The story behind Kiwi Rhymes

When my first pēpi was born, I wanted to change the world for her. But I was stuck on the couch, in the early post-partum haze.

I couldn’t change the world, but I could change the stories she hears.

I started making up my own versions of rhymes and stories that shared a world I wanted her to grow up in. One of modern stories and nursery rhymes that celebrated diversity of race, gender, size, shape, sexuality and ability. Celebrating Aotearoa's native bush, bird life and the Māori language. I was lucky to have author Tamati Waaka professionally translate the rhymes into te reo Māori and the amazing Johannah Kātene-Burge as the cultural advisor for the book, and the talented Ana Craw on illustration.

I have designed Kiwi Rhymes as a ‘living collaboration’. This means pronouns and names can be replaced and tamariki are invited to continue changing words to make the rhymes relevant to them and their lived experiences.