Huia press on kurangaituku
Kurangaituku is the story of Hatupatu told from the perspective of the traditional ‘monster’, Kurangaituku, the bird woman. In the traditional story, told from the view of Hatupatu, he is out hunting and is captured by a creature that is part bird and part woman. The bird woman imprisons him in her cave in the mountains. Hatupatu eventually escapes and is pursued by Kurangaituku. He evades her when he leaps over hot springs, but Kurangaituku goes into them and dies.
In this version of the story, Kurangaituku takes us on the journey of her extraordinary life – from the birds who sang her into being, to the arrival of the Song Makers and the change they brought to her world, and her life with Hatupatu and her death. Through the eyes of Kurangaituku, we come to see how being with Hatupatu changed Kurangaituku, emotionally and in her thoughts and actions, and how devastating his betrayal of her was.
Huia Publishers answered Chloe’s questions about the process behind the extraordinary, powerful and lyrical Ockham fiction finalist Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka.
What were your first thoughts of Kurangaituku when you read the manuscript?
Like most manuscripts, the first version we read was very different to the published one. The first version had an intensity we felt needed some revision. This is where having a strong sense of trust between the publisher and author is key. Whiti was really receptive to our feedback and, reading the revised version, we were captivated by the main character, Kurangaituku, and instantly had an affinity with her and were invested in her plight. Beyond that intimate relationship readers build with the main character, there are broader themes to do with identity, feminism, colonisation and our impact on other living beings and the environment. But most of all, we could see the clear vision Whiti had for the book and the absolute creativity and quality of the writing.
How does Kurangaituku fit into what Huia Publishers looks for in a publication?
We have a great relationship with Whiti having published her first three books prior to Kurangaituku, and we have a long-standing commitment to her success. This sits within our mission of developing Māori writers, which Whiti has contributed greatly to through her work with the Māori Literature Trust, both as a board member and a mentor to other writers.
There is an immense breadth of experience and viewpoints among Māori, and we aim to reflect that diversity across our books. Whiti brings her own experience as a Te Arawa woman living in today’s world to this reimagining of Kurangaituku. There are and will be many retellings of Hatupatu and Kurangaituku, the bird woman, and this is distinctly Whiti’s.
What was the thought process behind the cover design?
The eye-catching thing about this book is it has two front covers for the alternative beginnings of the book. Whiti pitched the flip book idea to us, and we could see her reasons for it and how it adds value to the story. Our production team then did the research to see how we could make it a reality. Each cover is a portrait of Kurangaituku, one more bird-like and the other more human-like, representing how she morphs according to the image created by those who imagine her. The illustrations are unpolished and gritty; there is a gestural quality and movement in the images, which we feel suits Kurangaituku as a character.
Why do you think Kurangaituku deserves to win the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction?
Kurangaituku is a complex and layered book. It pushes boundaries structurally and thematically. The result is a testament to Whiti’s patience and the time she has spent crafting her writing in order to do the story justice, as well as her bravery in realising a bold vision for this book.
Lastly, can you offer three questions about Kurangaituku that would make for a good bookclub discussion?
Which side of the book did you start with? How did this shape your impression of, and investment in, Kurangaituku as a character?
Has Kurangaituku, as she says herself, nested in your mind? Has the book had a lasting impact on you?
The centre section of the book has a traditional retelling of the story, from Hatupatu’s point of view. At what point in the novel did you read this, and how did it affect your understanding of the story?