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Mana
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Tāme Iti is an activist, te reo champion, artist, agitator, social worker and actor. This is his story.
In Mana, iconic Māori activist, artist and performer Tāme Iti shares his extraordinary life, defined by resistance, resilience and mātauranga.
Lyrical, wise, and deeply personal, Mana traces Tāme's journey from a Tūhoe child silenced from speaking his native tongue to becoming a lifelong crusader for self-determination and an outspoken champion of te reo Māori. From marching for land rights in the 1970s to being imprisoned under controversial charges during the Tūhoe raids, Tāme's memoir is a raw and powerful reflection on what it means to live with mana - dignity, integrity, and authority - in a world that often seeks to strip it away.
Tāme recounts his early years growing up in the shadow of colonialism, formative moments of protest and the cost of standing up for tino rangatiratanga. He shares stories not just of confrontation, but of connection, healing and the power of art as revolution.
This is more than a political memoir. It is a mediation on identity and the lifelong pursuit of justice, told by one of Aotearoa's most fascinating figures. Woven throughout with te reo Māori, humour and moments of unexpected tenderness, this is the story of a man who has never stopped challenging the status quo - and who never lost sight of the power of protest, performance and collective action.
Utterly compelling and profoundly human, Mana cements Tāme Iti's place not only as a witness to history but as a maker of it.
In Mana, iconic Māori activist, artist and performer Tāme Iti shares his extraordinary life, defined by resistance, resilience and mātauranga.
Lyrical, wise, and deeply personal, Mana traces Tāme's journey from a Tūhoe child silenced from speaking his native tongue to becoming a lifelong crusader for self-determination and an outspoken champion of te reo Māori. From marching for land rights in the 1970s to being imprisoned under controversial charges during the Tūhoe raids, Tāme's memoir is a raw and powerful reflection on what it means to live with mana - dignity, integrity, and authority - in a world that often seeks to strip it away.
Tāme recounts his early years growing up in the shadow of colonialism, formative moments of protest and the cost of standing up for tino rangatiratanga. He shares stories not just of confrontation, but of connection, healing and the power of art as revolution.
This is more than a political memoir. It is a mediation on identity and the lifelong pursuit of justice, told by one of Aotearoa's most fascinating figures. Woven throughout with te reo Māori, humour and moments of unexpected tenderness, this is the story of a man who has never stopped challenging the status quo - and who never lost sight of the power of protest, performance and collective action.
Utterly compelling and profoundly human, Mana cements Tāme Iti's place not only as a witness to history but as a maker of it.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
292 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
22 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 6, 2025
For New Zealanders, Tāme Iti needs little introduction. Prominent in advocating for Māori rights since the 1970s, he first came to my attention when he was put on trial on vague “terrorism” charges for activities in the vast Te Urewera forest. In his autobiography, Mana, Iti describes those events and successfully locates them in a wider narrative of how colonisation has not only impacted his own life, but also those of his Ngāi Tuhoe people and Māori in general. What could be a simple tale of how a young man from isolated Ruatoki studied as a painter and decorater, got involved in politics and activism, and now is an artist becomes something more when it is located in that wider narrative. Mana, detailing Iti’s long involvement in Māori activism from Ngā Tamatoa and the Land March in the 1970s to the trumped up charges that landed him in jail is a necessary first person account of an important period in New Zealand history. This is what makes Mana such a compelling read.
As well as the discussion of one man’s journey through a colonised world, I appreciated the way Iti introduced the art and performance he has undertaken in recent years as an extension of his activism. There is certainly room for a more detailed history looking at the role of performance and art in the Māori rights movement.
I also want to comment on the production of this book. Mana has the look and feel of a coffee table book and is an appropriate showcase of the art and stories contained inside, upholding the mana of Iti.
Recommended
As well as the discussion of one man’s journey through a colonised world, I appreciated the way Iti introduced the art and performance he has undertaken in recent years as an extension of his activism. There is certainly room for a more detailed history looking at the role of performance and art in the Māori rights movement.
I also want to comment on the production of this book. Mana has the look and feel of a coffee table book and is an appropriate showcase of the art and stories contained inside, upholding the mana of Iti.
Recommended
January 18, 2026
An interesting read. The audio version read by Tāme’s son is worthwhile listening to.
January 3, 2026
This is a history of activism and resistance, woven through Iti’s own life story. It is also a deeply human account of Aotearoa - its struggles, its silences, and its reckonings.
From the Urewera raids to decades of protest, this book carries enormous weight, and it does so with clarity and generosity.
I borrowed this from the library, but I already know I need a copy for my shelves. It’s a beautiful book - thoughtfully designed, filled with powerful photographs, and enriched by the use of te reo throughout.
That alone feels important. Necessary.
But it’s the wisdom that hits you. The sharing of history that too many New Zealanders still don’t know, or don’t know well enough.
Honestly, this should be compulsory reading.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but toward the end, when Iti reflects on the recent Toitū Te Tiriti march, I found myself in tears. It’s a moment of such quiet power - connecting past and present, struggle and hope.
This is a book to sit with. To return to. To learn from.
Highly, highly recommended.
From the Urewera raids to decades of protest, this book carries enormous weight, and it does so with clarity and generosity.
I borrowed this from the library, but I already know I need a copy for my shelves. It’s a beautiful book - thoughtfully designed, filled with powerful photographs, and enriched by the use of te reo throughout.
That alone feels important. Necessary.
But it’s the wisdom that hits you. The sharing of history that too many New Zealanders still don’t know, or don’t know well enough.
Honestly, this should be compulsory reading.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but toward the end, when Iti reflects on the recent Toitū Te Tiriti march, I found myself in tears. It’s a moment of such quiet power - connecting past and present, struggle and hope.
This is a book to sit with. To return to. To learn from.
Highly, highly recommended.
November 19, 2025
Te pono hoki o tēnei pukapuka haurongo! Auē, te whai, te whakaaro me te ora katoa o Tàme Iti.
Tēnā rawa atu koe, Tāme: ehara koe i a ia - he tamarahi pāriri ki te ao Māori.
and that last chapter.. auē - i tangi, i tangi, i hotuhotu au 😪😪😪
Ka whawhai tonu mātou. Ake, ake, ake!
Tēnā rawa atu koe, Tāme: ehara koe i a ia - he tamarahi pāriri ki te ao Māori.
and that last chapter.. auē - i tangi, i tangi, i hotuhotu au 😪😪😪
Ka whawhai tonu mātou. Ake, ake, ake!
March 7, 2026
Ciekawa postać w historii Nowej Zelandii. Tamę Iti to aktywista działający na rzecz Maorysów, mający bogate życie. Język prosty, to snujący opowieść gawędziarz. Czasami ciekawie, czasami trochę nudno. Język angielski, w miarę prodty, ale dosyć mocno przeplatany maoryskim, czasami tłumaczony, czasami nie.
February 27, 2026
An interesting look into the man, the myth, the legend.
January 16, 2026
It is not often that an autobiography can evoke so much emotion in so few words.
This book is so incredibly well written and readers can really hear Tāme through the text.
A compelling account of a truly incredible and inspiring life. He is not perfect and is open and honest about his failings in life too. A picture is painted of a man dedicated to fighting for what he believes in but also developing personally how he does this and understanding his own weaknesses.
Genuinely inspiring read, would encourage all people in Aotearoa to consider this an important historic text. I don’t often feel the need to write a review but this book was impactful enough to warrant it.
This book is so incredibly well written and readers can really hear Tāme through the text.
A compelling account of a truly incredible and inspiring life. He is not perfect and is open and honest about his failings in life too. A picture is painted of a man dedicated to fighting for what he believes in but also developing personally how he does this and understanding his own weaknesses.
Genuinely inspiring read, would encourage all people in Aotearoa to consider this an important historic text. I don’t often feel the need to write a review but this book was impactful enough to warrant it.
December 23, 2025
I read a lot of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, and Mana isn't a good example of the genre. Tāme Iti has led an interesting life, but there's no depth to what he says. He'll touch on events briefly, before moving on to something else. 292 pages, but half of it is images.
April 29, 2026
I knew New Zealand had a history of colonisation, but I did not realise just how deeply damaging it was until I read Mana. This book genuinely opened my eyes. Right from the beginning, Tame Iti shares the racism and discrimination he experienced during his childhood. One moment that really stayed with me was him being punished at school for speaking Māori, his own language, on his own land. He was made to write lines telling himself not to speak Māori again. That alone says so much about the systemic racism and cultural erasure Māori communities faced after colonisation.
One of the most striking moments in the book was when he stood in the river to block roaring jet boats from passing through his home community of Ruatoki. The boats were disturbing the peace and damaging the environment, and his protest reflected the deep spiritual connection between the Tūhoe people and the land. The phrase “Ko ahau te awa, ko te awa ko ahau” meaning “I am the river, the river is me” really stayed with me because it perfectly captures that relationship between people and nature.
I learned so much about him through this memoir. Beyond his activism, the book also explores the wider history of colonisation in New Zealand and the long lasting effects it had on Māori communities. I honestly think it is difficult to read this and not come away with a different perspective. Although he was often misunderstood and even labelled as a terrorist because of some of his protest actions, the book also shows another side of him through his art, performances, and community work. You can see how much of his activism comes from a place of protecting his people, preserving culture, and trying to heal both himself and his community.
What I appreciated most was how often he returned to the idea of mana, not just as pride or authority, but as something tied to dignity, identity, healing, and uplifting those around you. It made the book feel reflective rather than purely political.
Honestly, he is such an important figure in advocating for Māori rights, especially from the 1970s onwards, and I really think this is a worthwhile read. It is the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and question how much history we were never taught properly in the first place.
One of the most striking moments in the book was when he stood in the river to block roaring jet boats from passing through his home community of Ruatoki. The boats were disturbing the peace and damaging the environment, and his protest reflected the deep spiritual connection between the Tūhoe people and the land. The phrase “Ko ahau te awa, ko te awa ko ahau” meaning “I am the river, the river is me” really stayed with me because it perfectly captures that relationship between people and nature.
I learned so much about him through this memoir. Beyond his activism, the book also explores the wider history of colonisation in New Zealand and the long lasting effects it had on Māori communities. I honestly think it is difficult to read this and not come away with a different perspective. Although he was often misunderstood and even labelled as a terrorist because of some of his protest actions, the book also shows another side of him through his art, performances, and community work. You can see how much of his activism comes from a place of protecting his people, preserving culture, and trying to heal both himself and his community.
What I appreciated most was how often he returned to the idea of mana, not just as pride or authority, but as something tied to dignity, identity, healing, and uplifting those around you. It made the book feel reflective rather than purely political.
Honestly, he is such an important figure in advocating for Māori rights, especially from the 1970s onwards, and I really think this is a worthwhile read. It is the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and question how much history we were never taught properly in the first place.
January 16, 2026
soooo glad my ignorance and internalised racism towards Tāme has come off over the last few years
growing up the footage of him shooting the NZ flag made me basically hate the guy, even at like 8 years old, then the raids cemented his reputation for me at like 11. plus seeing his mataora added another level to my racism
even today seeing that shot in the book triggered something in me (good pun huh), even though now I get and agree with the sentiment, as well as basically everything he's done and does
so much I learned about him from the book, somehow didn't even know about him the artist - incredible paintings and sculptures even just in the book, can't wait to see them in person
very easy to read too - straight-forward, fast yet expansive, and the te reo is an added bonus for me. I hooned it in a couple days
hope there's a paperback version on the way - put me first on the preorder!!!
growing up the footage of him shooting the NZ flag made me basically hate the guy, even at like 8 years old, then the raids cemented his reputation for me at like 11. plus seeing his mataora added another level to my racism
even today seeing that shot in the book triggered something in me (good pun huh), even though now I get and agree with the sentiment, as well as basically everything he's done and does
so much I learned about him from the book, somehow didn't even know about him the artist - incredible paintings and sculptures even just in the book, can't wait to see them in person
very easy to read too - straight-forward, fast yet expansive, and the te reo is an added bonus for me. I hooned it in a couple days
hope there's a paperback version on the way - put me first on the preorder!!!
January 27, 2026
Growing up I remember reports of Tāme Iti in the news for various reasons which I didn't understand back then. But the overall impression my young Pākehā mind formed was that he was a trouble maker. As I grew up and learned more about the history of colonization in this country my perspective of him of course changed. Until I read Mana I had no idea though that he was him and other Ngā Tamatoa that instigated the Land March of 1975 or the tent embassy.
Tāme Iti is a man who has confronted and admits to his demons. He's a leader and an artist. Last year at Waitangi I saw him heckling David Seymour (which I could easily have joined in with) but in Mana he talks about how we shouldn't expect those at the top to lead the way, and it needs to come from the flaxroots. E hikoi tonu ana ia i tēnei kaupapa!
Tāme Iti is a man who has confronted and admits to his demons. He's a leader and an artist. Last year at Waitangi I saw him heckling David Seymour (which I could easily have joined in with) but in Mana he talks about how we shouldn't expect those at the top to lead the way, and it needs to come from the flaxroots. E hikoi tonu ana ia i tēnei kaupapa!
April 2, 2026
A candid memoir by Tāme Iti, tracing his life from childhood through activism, social worker, and art. He shares his whakaaro - his ideas and thinking - candid and with heart; talks about healing, both himself and his community; and uses these experiences to explore the meaning of mana.
The book covers major events including the 1975 Land March, the Tūhoe/Urewera raids, and Treaty Settlement processes, offering perspectives that you likely haven't heard or considered before.
Ultimately, it is a grassroots call to action: to uplift our mana and the mana of those around us, rather than waiting for those at the top - those fellas are "sorted" and happy with where things are at. I was entertained, moved and inspired by it, well worth the read.
The book covers major events including the 1975 Land March, the Tūhoe/Urewera raids, and Treaty Settlement processes, offering perspectives that you likely haven't heard or considered before.
Ultimately, it is a grassroots call to action: to uplift our mana and the mana of those around us, rather than waiting for those at the top - those fellas are "sorted" and happy with where things are at. I was entertained, moved and inspired by it, well worth the read.
February 5, 2026
What a beautiful book. Throughout the book te reo maori is sprinkled in with the English text yet by the end you feel so familiar with the ideas and concepts behind much of the te reo maori that you no longer need to think about its meaning or look for a translation. The words become real and part of your understanding of the story. You don’t need to know the background or history of Aotearoa to identify and find a connection with his story; we all have it within us. Wonderful.
January 3, 2026
Absolutely fascinating - I learned a tonne of stuff I didn't know about Tame Iti and Tuhoe, and now have a different perspective to consider what I thought I knew about a number of events in Aotearoa's history.
January 13, 2026
Ataahua te rongo ki a matua Tame e kōrero ana I tōnā ake kōrero. Mai I tētahi e rangatahi te ahua ki a ia te rawe hoki te ako i nga hītori mo nga momo mahi I a ia rātou ko Nga Tamatoa mo te mana motuhake o te iwi Māori. Nei ra te tuku mihi aroha ki a koe matua!
Review of advance copy
What a fantastic book! I feel incredibly recognised and fulfilled after reading Tāme Iti's story, woven with history of Aotearoa. The kaupapa and kōrero is enlightening. This book has changed something within me, and I think that was its exact purpose.
January 15, 2026
Must read !
February 21, 2026
I found this a very interesting and informative book. I recommend it.
March 5, 2026
Ka nui taku aroha mō Tāme ❤️🖤🤍
Review of advance copy
This is one of the best books that I've read for 2026. I would love to meet Tāme Iti, but I wouldn't know on what to say to him
And I do wonder if he ever did find his dad's tent
And I do wonder if he ever did find his dad's tent
April 7, 2026
Was cheeky and read this, then returned it for something else (it was a b-day present)
May 2, 2026
Every NZer should read this book
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews