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10 ratings | 5 reviews | avg rating:4.90

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Lesley

3,039 books | 76 friends

Melinda Szymanik

814 books | 114 friends

Bookrapt (Est. 1983)

438 books | 49 friends

Brian

44 books | 176 friends

Paula Phillips

11,219 books | 4,985 friends

Angie Belcher

235 books | 66 friends

Piper Mejia

820 books | 123 friends

Andy Hickman

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Debbie McCauley

Goodreads Author

Born

New Zealand

Website

https://www.facebook.com/DebbieMcCauleyAuthor

Genre

Children's, History, Nonfiction

Member Since

July 2015

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/debbiemccauley

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McCauley, Debbie (1972- ) (Ngāti Kirimā) is an award-winning author and indie publisher. Her work has won the Best Non-Fiction category in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, been chosen as a White Raven by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, and selected by the New Zealand Blind Foundation to be produced in braille, large print and e-text. She believes in telling children stories from Aotearoa that will enrich their lives through a sense of place and belonging.

In 2012 Debbie arranged a family reunion and published her first book under her imprint Mauao Publishing; 'The McCauley Family of Katikati, New Zealand, 1876-2012' (Mauao Publishing, 2012). Written in just three months, it brings together over 2 McCauley, Debbie (1972- ) (Ngāti Kirimā) is an award-winning author and indie publisher. Her work has won the Best Non-Fiction category in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, been chosen as a White Raven by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, and selected by the New Zealand Blind Foundation to be produced in braille, large print and e-text. She believes in telling children stories from Aotearoa that will enrich their lives through a sense of place and belonging.

In 2012 Debbie arranged a family reunion and published her first book under her imprint Mauao Publishing; 'The McCauley Family of Katikati, New Zealand, 1876-2012' (Mauao Publishing, 2012). Written in just three months, it brings together over 20 years of her genealogical research.

Debbie’s first story for children was bilingual narrative non-fiction picture book 'Taratoa and the Code of Conduct: A Story from the Battle of Gate Pā' (Mauao Publishing, 2014), which was a finalist in the 2015 LIANZA Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Awards. As part of the organising committee for the 2014 Battle of Gate Pā sesquicentennial, Debbie was inspired to tell the story of the battle in a way accessible to children. Illustrated by her 15-year-old daughter Sophie McCauley, and translated into Te Reo Māori by Tamati Waaka, it also proved to be a big hit with adults.

'Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill: A Story from the Rena Disaster' (Mauao Publishing, 2014) was Debbie’s second children’s book. Translated into Te Reo Māori by Tamati Waaka, it won the Best Non-Fiction category in the 2015 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and was chosen as a 2015 White Raven by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

The following three years were spent researching 'The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga: Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga Moana' (Mauao Publishing, 2018) which was illustrated by Whare Joseph Thompson, translated into Te Reo Māori by Tamati Waaka, and released on 10 April 2018. During the process, Debbie was contacted by Treaty researcher and writer Claudia Orange, with the result that she shared her research for the ‘He Tohu’ exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand.

'Ko Mauao te Maunga: Legend of Mauao' (Mauao Publishing, 2018) was illustrated by Debbie Tīpuna, translated into Te Reo Māori by Tamati Waaka, and released during Tauranga’s Matariki festival. Debbie wrote the book with the approval and support of kaumātua. It retells the traditional Legend of Mauao.

While on the Suffrage 125 Tauranga organising committee, Debbie was inspired to research and write the story of her suffragist ancestress. The result was 'Eliza and the White Camellia: A Story of Suffrage in New Zealand' (Mauao Publishing, 2018), illustrated by Helen Casey and translated into Te Reo Māori by Tamati Waaka. Eliza Wallis (née Hart) was a first-wave feminist who actively sought the Vote for Women. The book was released on 28 November 2018, 125 years after New Zealand women went to the polls for the first time.

Debbie is currently working on her next book for children and enjoys being part of the entire creative process from conception, research, writing and editing, to organising the translation of her work and overseeing illustration, book design, printing, marketing and distribution. ...more

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Debbie McCauley’s books

Average rating: 4.63 · 40 ratings · 18 reviews · 9 distinct works

	Ko Mauao te Maunga: Legend of Mauao by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Debbie Tipuna (Illustrator), Tamati Waaka (Translator) 4.67 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill: A Story from the Rena Disaster by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Tamati Waaka (Translator) 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga: Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga Moana by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Whare Joseph Thompson (Illustrator), Tamati Waaka (Translator) 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2018	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Eliza and the White Camellia: A Story of Suffrage in New Zealand by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Helen Casey (Illustrator), Tamati Waaka (Translator) 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bookrapt's Treasury: A collection of delightful tales for children and young people from Bay of Plenty storytellers by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Debbie Tipuna (Illustrator), Avis Acres (Contributor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Taratoa and the Code of Conduct: A Story from the Battle of Gate Pā by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Tamati Waaka (Translator), Sophie McCauley (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Māia the Brave: A Type 2 Diabetes Story by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Arataki School tamariki (Illustrator), Tamati Waaka (Translator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2018	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The McCauley Family of Katikati, New Zealand: 1876-2012 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Te Kuia rāua ko Kurī: Legend of Te Kuia and Kurī by Debbie McCauley (Goodreads Author), Des Tata (Kai Pūrākau), Debbie Tipuna (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Debbie McCauley's Blog

Book Launch: Bookrapt’s Treasury

Thank you to everyone here tonight for supporting local literature. A book launch is never just the celebration of a finished product; it is the celebration of a long, shared, and beautifully collaborative journey. Thank you all for sharing it with us.

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Published on September 02, 2026 16:21

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Debbie McCauley wrote a new blog post Book Launch: Bookrapt’s Treasury Thank you to everyone here tonight for supporting local literature. A book launch is never just the celebration of a finished product; it is the celeb Read more of this blog post »
Sep 03, 2026 05:19AM · like
Debbie McCauley is now following Rebecca M. Larsen Author of Row Row Row Your Waka
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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Book Loving Kiwis: LIANZA Children's Book Awards 2015 Finalists	1	10	Mar 24, 2015 02:03PM
Book Loving Kiwis: NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults + Children's Choice Awards 2015: WINNERS	3	19	Aug 28, 2015 02:20AM