In the 1950s, a young Ngāhuia was fostered by a family who believed in hard work and community. Although close to her kuia, Ngāhuia craved more. Her pukapuka recounts how a restless working-class girl from the pā became a founding member of Ngā Tamatoa and the Women's and Gay Liberation movements and an essential voice in protests across Aotearoa, from Waitangi to the streets of Wellington.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku (Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Waikato) is the first female Māori Emeritus Professor from a university, with degrees from the University of Auckland and University of Waikato. She has worked as a curator, lecturer, critic, researcher, television presenter and governor in the heritage and university sectors. She is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and a Fellow of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. In addition to the recently released Hine Toa, te Awekōtuku is the author of five other books, including Ruahine : Mythic Women, and Mau Moko: The world of Māori Tattoo. She has returned to Ōhinemutu and serves on the Paepae Tapu o Ngāti Whakaue. She loves cats, haka and chocolate.