A remarkable book is taking on a life of its own, finding its way into places the UCOL Creative Media student never dreamed of.

Throughout the year, ākonga (learners) work hard on their projects. But every so often, someone goes beyond what’s expected, connecting with communities and creating opportunities they never saw coming.

Nina Kereama-Stevenson is one such student. One of her Bachelor of Creative Media assignments was to produce an illustrative project of her choice. Nina created a children’s book inspired by her deep connection to te ao Māori and childhood memories of exploring the New Zealand bush with her kuia (grandmother), where she learned about plants and their traditional uses. The journeys she experienced during her childhood are beautifully reflected in the vibrant and enchanting book Ōku Tuākana.

This illustrated story follows Tui, a young child finding her way home with the help of Kawakawa, friendly bush plant characters. Along the way, Tui meets a cast of native plants, discovering their healing powers and kindness.

The response has been incredible. Nina has been encouraged to not only publish the book but also showcase it as a projection on the Palmerston North Library walls and even collaborate with the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) on a children’s storybook walk, bringing Tui’s journey to life.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Nina is forging ahead with publishing Ōku Tuākana—look out for it in March 2025! She has completed the projection on the library walls, in negotiation with PNCC to see what could be a possibility. She’s also already working on her second book and is excited to grow her career as a professional illustrator.