A gentle and powerful story that reclaims the sacredness of a girl’s first ikura (period) through a Māori lens — celebrating connection, ceremony and whakapapa.

Rooted in te ao Maaori, My First Ikura and the reo Māori translation Taku Ikura Tuatahi is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that follows a young girl’s first period, guided by the support of her whaanau. More than a story of physical change, it celebrates womanhood as a sacred rite of passage.

  • First of its kind in Aotearoa: Addresses first menstruation through a Maaori cultural framework.

  • Culturally affirming: Emphasises ceremony, family support and ancestral wisdom - plus a specially written karakia whānau / friends to learn and share in together.

  • Beautifully produced: With premium finishes and lush, full-colour illustrations, Papatūānuku is brought to the page using kōkōwai (earth pigments) throughout.

  • Authentic Indigenous voice: Written and self-published by well-known creatives, this story draws on lived experience and mātauranga, building trust and demand from readers seeking authenticity.

  • Education-friendly: Peer-reviewed by puberty and health professionals, mothers, women and young girls, this story supports conversations in kura, classrooms and at home about periods, wellbeing and identity for all ages and ethnicities.

Written by award-winning storyteller Qiane Matata-Sipu and illustrated by acclaimed Maaori artist Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, this unique pukapuka brings cultural grounding, aroha and maatauranga to the bookshelf. It is perfect for homes, schools, kura kaupapa, libraries and community spaces.

My First Ikura / Taku Ikura Tuatahi fills a long-overdue gap in children's publishing in Aotearoa.

My First Ikura
Taku Ikura Tuatahi

Publishing details

Publisher: QIANE+co
Author: Qiane Matata-Sipu
Translator: Stacey Morrison
Illustrator: Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Design & Layout: Chloē Reweti
Released: November 2025
Distributor: Bateman Books

ISBN:
978-0-473-74869-2 (English)
978-0-473-74875-3 (Te reo Māori)

Age group: 6-12 years
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Internals: 140gsm woodfree
FSC Cover: 135gsm hyacinth super fine linen
Dimensions: 255mm x 195mm

Copies are available at bookshops and gift store nationwide, including…

  • "Publications like this help dissolve shame and disconnection, instead nurturing agency, understanding, and pride in our young wāhine as they move through this important rite of passage.”

    — Cushla Foe (5 star review on Maimoa Creative)

  • "The perfect way to lead into healthy conversations."

    — Jess O (5 star review on Maimoa Creative)

  • "Reading the book with my two daughters (9 & 11) talking late into the night as they were asking so many questions, looking at the diagrams and asking about products. The girls are both excited about getting their period/ikura now."

    — Jo Latif

  • "A valuable resource for educators in schools and another important contribution to ways of talking about ikura with girls and young women. "

    — Professor Karen Nairn

About the creators

  • Qiane (Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Cook Islands) is a trailblazer, a storytelling leader and cultural disruptor based in Taamaki Makaurau - Auckland.

    Resonating deeply with modern readers seeking diverse voices and cultural wisdom, her books (and NUKU podcast) are more than stand alone titles; they’re part of a wider movement that promotes self-worth, community connection and a blueprint for thriving through Indigenous female knowledge. She wrote, photographed and first published NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women, shortlisted for the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, and her most recent children’s book Ngā Kupenga a Nanny Rina (published by Penguin) won a 2024 Storylines Notable Book Award (te reo Māori) and was shortlisted in the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

    Recognised for her powerful voice, Qiane’s leadership is rooted in a clear, personal purpose: to amplify the stories of marginalised people and change the narrative for future generations. For more information, visit www.qiane.co.nz

  • Isobel Joy  (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) is an artist of Māori, British, and Danish ancestry based in Pōneke / Wellington. A descendant of matakite and healers, she draws inspiration from her tūpuna and the natural world around her.

    Her work combines digital and traditional mediums, weaving together kowhaiwhai, native flora, and themes of mana wahine, kaitiakitanga, and ancestral healing.

  • Stacey (Kai Tahu, Te Arawa waka) found her way into TV presenting through her Aranui High School drama group and has never really left the media industry, working as a radio presenter, television writer, director, producer and presenter in shows across the spectrum of entertainment, documentary, comedy and national live broadcasts for Matariki.

    Growing up disconnected from her language and culture, she learned te reo Māori as a young adult and has raised her tamariki as first-language Māori speakers with her husband Scotty. She is now a licensed translator and interpreter of te reo Māori, and an author of books.