- Tim Tipene
Award-winning Author
Founder of the acclaimed Warrior Kids
- Tim's latest books
The Book That Wouldn't Read
The boy at the centre of Tim Tipene's striking new story doesn't like reading, until one day in the school library he picks up The Book that Wouldn't Read. Suddenly the book takes on a life of its own - with sentences moving up and down, words changing colour and disappearing, and strange fonts and characters that get the reader jumping around, even burping. His appeals to the teacher and friends get hushed because 'it's reading time,' and before he knows it, he's finished the book. 'What should I read next?' An inspirational story in English (hardback) and Maori (paperback) editions that takes the viewpoint of children who have reading struggles, with design guided by educators for appeal to reluctant or even dyslexic readers.
Illustrated by Nicoletta Benella. Oratia Books 2023.
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Pipi and Pou
and the Tentacles of the Deep.
Opening her throat, Nana gave an almighty karanga, calling to the moana. She told the sea who she was, and where she had come from. The tohunga gestured at Pipi and Pou, and stated that the giant eagle and the taniwha were her mokopuna, and that as a whānau they had come in peace.
'We are kaitiaki!' sang Nana. 'Guardians and protectors of the natural world!'
Join Pipi, Pou and Nana as they fight the strange creature hidden in the surf.
Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. OneTree House 2023.
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Pipi and Pou
and the 100 Legs of Terror.
'Āe, tika, it's been in the news,' Minister Reihana continued. 'All of our kauri have been under threat of disease, yet there is something else going on with Tikokekoke. I sent scientists into the ngahere to conduct tests on him, only to have them come running out full of fear. In response, police entered the forest to investigate and after a day even they ran scared. They claimed that there was some sort of monster stalking them.'
Join Pipi, Pou and Nana as they solve the mystery haunting the forest at the request of the Prime Minister.
Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. OneTree House 2023.
Pipi and Pou
and the Raging Mountain.
Finalist - Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award at the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2023.
'They're going to be real classics, and it's just so exciting for NZ children to have these characters.'
- Joanna Ludbrook, Nine To Noon, RNZ
'They're just what kiwi kids have been looking for!'
- Adele Broadbent, whatbooknext.comJoin Pipi and Pou in their new adventure series as they transform into a mighty eagle and a fierce taniwha in order to overcome dangers and save lives.
Pipi and Pou are looking forward to a weekend of screen time but Nana has other ideas. The earth is shaking down south and Nana wants to find out why. Can Pipi and Pou stop the raging mountain carving a destructive path through the forest? And what if success means sharing their secret powers with strangers?
Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. OneTree House 2022.
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Pipi and Pou
and the River Monster.
Pipi and Pou want to spend the day reading but Nana says they have to go up north - someone needs their help. Yet when they get there, instead of being greeted as heroes something attacks them! With danger coming from every direction, how can they work together so they can get out alive?
Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. OneTree House 2022
White Moko
(White Grandchild)
'The most powerful book I have read for some time.'
- Bob's Book Blog.'Now he, (Tim), has written a memoir, White Moko, subtitled Stories from my Life, which gives some of the personal background to common themes running through his work: dealing with violence and abuse, and fighting to achieve goals, such as gaining self-respect and a sense of purpose in life. All of this is a remarkable achievement. It becomes amazing when measured against his early life, described in White Moko. The very fact that Tim Tipene is alive today is amazing. Every event in his young life seemed to destine him for drugs, despair and suicide.'
- Trevor Agnew, Magpies Magazine NZ.
One Tree House, 2020
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Rona Moon
'My picture book of the year,' - Catherine Woulfe, The Spinoff.
No 1 on the top 10 books for kids at the Auckland Libraries, Dec/2020.
Listed as one of the 50 Best Kids’ Books by the NZ Listener, 2020.
'Everything looks so small from up here,’ said Rona.
‘I know,’ Whaea beamed. ‘Even the reasons we felt angry seem so little.’
The beloved myth of Rona and the Moon comes to 21st-century Aotearoa in English and Māori in Tim Tipene’s sensitive telling, strikingly illustrated by Tai Tokerau artist Theresa Reihana.
Rona Moon gets angry with everyone — her brother, her Nana and Papa — and then one night she calls the moon stupid! Taken to meet her ancestor Whaea Rona on the moon, she learns a lesson in how to control her temper.Oratia Books, 2020
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Mrs Battleship
'Tipene's stories of how he found jewels of wisdom and love in a world that had no place for him are heart breaking. Adults will need tissues. This is a book that every teacher should read too. While we all hope we never have to teach a child with an upbringing like the one Tipene had, we also all hope we will be remembered as a Mrs Battleship too.
There are plenty of funny moments too. It's easy to forget this is primarily a children's book. Younger readers will laugh out loud and nod in agreement. Tipene's cheeky side comes through.'
- Rebekah Fraser, NZ Booklovers
Mrs Battleship is a collection for junior readers: vignettes from Tim's primary school years - which do not feature in White Moko.
Illustrated by Carol Green. One Tree House, 2019
Check out more books written by Tim.
- Tim Tipene
Award-winning Author
Founder of the acclaimed Warrior Kids
Tim was adopted into the Waitai Tipene family, and raised in two cultures, NZ Māori and NZ European.
His tribal affiliations are Ngāti Kurī / Ngāti Whātua / Ngāti Pākehā
Tim being inducted into the NZ Martial Arts Hall of Fame by Professor Dave Millar
For Warrior Kids Tim received the following acknowledgements:
- Kiwibank New Zealander of the year Local Hero Award in 2015 and 2016.
- NZ Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, 2013.
A trained counsellor with a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Tim also holds multiple Black Belt Ranks and teaching titles in various Martial Arts.
Inspirational Speaker: For over two decades Tim shared his story of overcoming an abusive and violent childhood with audiences both young and old. Click Storytime to listen to some of Tim's talks.
Tim teaching Warrior Kids in 1999.
Photo from the NZ Herald.
In 1994 Tim created Warrior Kids, a self control and social skills programme for children and teens. For 28 years Tim ran the Warrior Kids programme and weekly classes in schools and communities, changing the lives of thousands of young people and their families.
'You only have to look at my life, where I've come from,
the changes I've made, the accomplishments,
and you can see the effectiveness of Warrior Kids.'
- Tim Tipene
Watch Tim's inspirational story
Tim's Book Awards:
Pipi and Pou and the Raging Mountain
Finalist - Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award at the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2023.
Rona Moon
Storylines Notable Te Reo Māori 2021.
Māui - Sun Catcher
Storylines Notable book 2017.
Hinemoa te toa
Received two awards at the 2009 LIANZA Children's Book Awards:
Te Tohu Pounamu mo te wahanga Kaiwhakamaori and Te Tohu Taurapa mo te whahanga Pukapuka Pikitia.
Haere, Farewell Jack, farewell
Picture Book Honour Award at the 2006 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults.
Named one of the top New Zealand picture books by Waikato University, 2010.
Taming the Taniwha
Selected for the White Ravens International Youth Library Catalogue as one of the world's top 250 children's books for 2002.
Named one of the top New Zealand picture books by Waikato University, 2010.
The Wooden Fish
Storylines Notable book 2000.
Listen to an in depth interview from Radio NZ
where Tim's discusses his book, 'White Moko'. 2020
Gallery
Tim in action.
Books
Tim is an award winning author who was first published in 1996.
His books can be purchased at any good book store.
In 1994 Tim Tipene created his own Self Control and Social Skills programme for children and teens. He called it...,
For 28 years Tim ran the Warrior Kids programme and weekly classes in schools and communities, changing the lives of thousands of young people and their families.
For more information about Warrior Kids visit the site.
- Storytime
For two decades Tim shared his inspirational story with audiences both young and old. Here are some highlights.
The boy who wanted to marry his teacher.
Mrs Battleship.
Kicked out of School.
My sister liked
to fight boys.
Sit back, relax and listen to Tim read some of his books.
Rona Moon
Māui - Sun Catcher
Butterfly Tape from
Mrs Battleship
Hinemoa te toa
Taming the Taniwha
A playlist of Tim's readings.
Media
Some of the coverage from 1999 to 2011.
Click image to enlarge
