Slowing the Sun

by Nadine Hura, Nadine Anne Hura

Hope is a shovel and will give you blisters

Overwhelmed by the complexity of climate change, Nadine­ Hura sets out to find a language that connects more­ deeply with the environmental crisis. But what begins as a journalistic quest to understand the science takes an abrupt and introspective turn following the death of her brother.

In the midst of grief, Hura works through science, pūrākau, poetry and back again. Seeking to understand climate change in relation to whenua and people, she asks: how should we respond to what has been lost? Her many-sided essays explore environmental degradation, social disconnection and Indigenous reclamation, insisting that any meaningful response must be grounded in Te Tiriti and anti-colonialism.

Slowing the Sun is a karanga to those who have passed on, as well as to the living, to hold on to ancestral knowledge for future generations.

'Nadine’s writing can make us feel seen, less alone, more hopeful, more enlightened. He kaiwhakairo i te kupu, he ­kaituhi­ ngā kokonga ngākau – a carver of words, a ­writer ­for all corners of the heart.'

— Stacey Morrison (Ngāi Tahu, Te Arawa, Pākehā)

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Essays

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Mary Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of my favorite non fiction climate books ever. It would require a lot of explanation and translation for non-nz readers.

[Susana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little concerned this might be too weighty for my planned week of total indulgence and relaxation over New Year. However, while the subject matter is challenging and crucially important, Hura's storytelling and weaving personal narrative into hard-hitting political reflection makes this bith gripping and easy reading. This is essential reading for any Pakeha concerned about either decolonisation or climate change, as Hura deftly communicates how inextricably intertwined they are. While reading these essays in my own piece of regenerating native bush reassured me I was taking some productive action, the challenges of what genuine decolonisation and Treaty partnership might look like will take time to absorb. I will definitely be including one or more of these essays into my Year 12 Englishprogramme in 2026.

[Sa Sz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book. I’ve always wanted to learn more about NZ, Indigenous ways of life and thinking, and to explore a different perspective on climate change. However, I was quickly disappointed because it feels like you already need to be somewhat of an insider to fully understand large parts of the text.

I don’t want to keep Googling things while reading, but maybe I’ll give it another try in the future.

[Lucia Campbell-Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sharon Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this twice and I’ll read it again. Every NZer should read this book.