Written by: Tangaroa Paul.

Illustrated by: Rebecca Gibbs.

‘Mō ngā kōtiro anake te poi, e mara!’

Ka nui te aroha o Rangi ki te kapa haka, heoi, ko te poi tana tino kaingākau — ahakoa ngā kōrero a ngā hoa ā-kura, mā ngā kōtiro anake te poi. Tērā pōhēhē tērā!

Ka māuiui te kaitātaki wahine i mua i te tū o te kapa ki te pō whakangahau, ka riro mai ko Rangi ki te kawe i taua tūranga. Ka pēhea ngā tauira me te hunga mātakitaki.

‘Tē taea e te tama ki te ārahi i te poi?’

‘Uhm, the poi is for girls, eah!’

Rangi loves doing kapa haka but performing poi is his favourite — even though his classmates say it’s just for girls. What an assumption that is! When the female leader for the poi falls sick before a school performance, Rangi steps into her place. How will the other students and the audience react? ‘Surely a boy can’t lead the poi?’ (From Auckland Council Libraries).

Further resources are available on the Auckland Council Libraries website, including an interview with the author, the author reading the book, and a poi performance by the author.