Kupe and and the Great Octopus of Muturangi by Mat Tait

Title: Kupe and and the Great Octopus of Muturangi

Author: Mat Tait

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 24^th March 2026

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 36

Price: $29.99

Synopsis: Kupe’s voyage to Aotearoa, told and illustrated by award-winning author Mat Tait.

Kupe’s voyage to Aotearoa!

Kupe found that a huge, fearsome wheke (octopus) was taking all the fish in the ocean and the people of Hawaiki had nothing to eat.

So Kupe chased that wheke across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean).

Finally Hine-te-Aparangi, Kupe’s wife, saw land and a long white cloud: Aotearoa!

Find out what happened when the wheke and Kupe had a massive battle . . .

~*~

Kupe is said to be the first Polynesian to discover New Zealand, or Aotearoa.  Mat Tait, an author and illustrator of Māori descent, has used Kupe’s story of the journey to Aotearoa.

Kupe lives on Hawaiki on an island in the middle of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, also known as the Pacific Ocean. Things are peaceful, until they find that all the fish are being eaten. When Kupe finds out that a large octopus is taking all the fish, he chases the octopus through the sea…until he and his wife find Aotearoa, the land of the long, white cloud!

Every culture has myths and stories that explain how they came to live where they did, their origin stories, and the stories of their heroes and villains. Many of these stories shape how cultures across the world understand the world and where they come from, and being able to explore them can help people grow their own understanding of how different people see the world. 

This picture book that retells the origin story, and brings it to life in colourful illustrations that pop and dance off the page. Kupe and his journey is brought to life throughout and his voice is clear and strong. He is in charge of his story and narrative. He’s a brave character, and one that you can see has shaped the Māori culture and understanding of the world, and these stories deserve to be told and shared as much as possible.

This story whilst short captures something important, a cultural moment and story that evokes a sense of place and story. It’s a battle for life and death, but an important story that brings this story to life for new generations and audiences. Getting to know the different stories around the world about how different cultures see their beginnings is powerful and important so we can understand how the rest of the world was shaped and the stories they tell.

This was a lovely book to read, one that brings myth into the modern world for new readers and can be used to help teach children about different stories and different cultures. It’s lovely because it uses language perfectly, and shows how to bring it in so everyone can understand it.

I think readers of all ages will enjoy this book.

Read a version of the full myth here.