Protest! Shaping Aotearoa

Protesting has been a part of Aotearoa’s history for hundreds of years, from land protests to climate change, this book highlights those who have stood up and made their actions count. Protest! Shaping Aotearoa gives readers an insight into changes that have taken place as a result of protesting, written in a clear way, in short paragraphs, perfectly targeted at school-aged readers.

Sections are arranged by topic, rather than in chronological order with a wide range of topics covered including, but not limited to, land protests, employment, calling out racism, protecting the environment and gender and disability rights. Emotive photographs combined with images of artwork and ephemera give readers a snapshot and a wider understanding of the time of the protests. There are extensive links at the end of the book for further research into the protest topics covered, these will be helpful to readers who are looking for more information and find this book a springboard for further research.

I particularly appreciated the section on ‘our Pacific neighbours’ highlighting some of the protests that have taken place in our neighbouring Pacific nations. Published Pasifika history is not easily accessible at this level and I know that our students will appreciate these stories.

Readers will be inspired by the actions and results of the protestors who have gone before them and gain an understanding of contemporary issues and how past protests shape the future of protesting in Aotearoa.

There are some missing and incorrect captions on some images, and other small editing errors in the copy that I have but these errors would not dissuade me from adding it to our school library collection, just something to be aware of. (Ed’s note: we’ve let the publisher know and corrections have been made).

Title: Protest! Shaping Aotearoa

Author: Many Hager

Publisher: One Tree House

ISBN: 978-0-9951176-9-3

RRP: $40

Format: Softcover

Publication: July 2021

Ages: 10+

Do you have any advisory warnings for this book? There are a few images that have the potential to upset sensitive, younger readers, a whale being processed, and violence during a protest as examples.

Reviewer: Louana McCormack, Librarian, Opaheke School, Auckland

How are you recommending this book? Recommended

Opening sentence: One of my earliest memories, when I was maybe five or six, is standing with my brother and two sisters, our hands linked around an ancient native tree on the section next door as we tried to stop a bulldozer knocking it down.

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