‘Taonga’

Written by Kiwa Hammond

Illustrated by Adele Jackson

This text is a ‘Ready to Read’ resource.

Mahi and Hani could see Nan waiting at the door. They waved and raced up the path.

“Kia ora, kia ora,” cried Nan. “Come inside and have some afternoon tea and tell me about your day at school.”

As they took off their school bags, Hani saw something small and red and shiny on the bench.

“Hey, look at that. Is that a new phone, Nan?” he asked.

“Yes,” laughed Nan, “but I’m still learning how to use it. This phone is so different from my old one. But it takes really good photos.”

“That phone is so cool!” said Hani. “If I had a phone like that, it would be my most favourite things in the whole wide world!”

“Really?” asked Nan. She smiled at him. “More favourite than your Nan?”

“No!” exclaimed Hani. His face went red.

Nan laughed and hugged him. “Come and have something to eat,” she said. “I’ve made some rēwana bread. And you two can tell me about your day.”

Mahi said, “At school, we were talking about favourite things and things that are special to us.”

“What’s your favourite thing, Nan?” asked Hani.

“Apart from whānau?” smiled Nan. Hani nodded and smiled back.

Nan touched the pounamu hanging around her neck. “This is my taonga, my very precious treasure. My own Nan gave it to me.”

Nana took a photo off the shelf. The photo showed a kuia and a little girl. The kuia was wearing a pounamu. “That is my grandmother - taku kuia,” said Nan. “That little girl is me.” She put the photo back.

“We have to think about a taonga of our own and then write about it,” said Hani.

“What are you going to write about?” asked Nan.

“I’m not sure,” replied Hani. “There are lots of things that are special to me. I need to think hard.”

Mahi finished her afternoon tea. She looked at Nan’s new phone. “Could we take some photos with that?” she asked.

“Tino pai! That sounds like a great idea,” Nan replied. “Here you are.”

Nan and the children looked at the photos.

“You were right, Nan. This phone takes great photos!” said Hani.

“Can we print some of these photos?” asked Mahi. “I’ve got an idea.”

Mahi held up one of the photos.

“I’m going to write about you!” she said to Nan. “This photo is my taonga.”

“Yes!” said Hani. “Now I know what I’m going to write about, too!”