Compiling a rich, accessible introduction to the people and the land of Taikokerau-a northern region of New Zealand-this collection of proverbs offers traditional wisdom from the oral record of an indigenous history and culture. Presenting close to 200 selected sayings that capture key moments in Maori history, celebrated ancestors, and important places, each adage is combined with relevant paintings and photographs that provide concrete, visual anchors for insight into these powerful metaphors for human behavior. New translations in English help explain the origins and meanings of the proverbs, all of which offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Merata Kawharu is the director of research at the University of Auckland's James Henare Maori Research Center and the coeditor of Waitangi Revisited: Perspectives on the Treaty of Waitangi and Whenua: Managing Our Resources. Krzysztof Pfeiffer is the resident photographer for the Auckland War Memorial Museum and has published more than 20 books.