Leonie Agnew

It's 1978 and Bastion Point has been occupied by Ngāti Whātua. 10-year-old Pakeha boy Conrad Cooper has just found out about Tane, Māori god of the forest, and seeing that the more popular gods are likely to be quite busy, decides to believe in him and ask him for help with his problems. His stepfather is a control-freak policeman and his neighbour, originally from Ireland, has just become a New Zealand citizen, so Conrad decides that he too could make a change and become Māori. He also doesn't understand why people have occupied Bastion Point. As no-one will explain the issues around the protest to him he rides his bike up to the point himself and seeks out his old schoolteacher who is part of the protest to get some answers. Well worth reading. Conrad has some serious issues to deal with, but he is a delight in his naivety, and this is a fabulous book!… (more)

Brilliant, loved the innocence of the main character Conrad Cooper an 10 year old boy. Conrad lives with his mum and stepdad Gaz. The family is somewhat dysfunctional in that the mum was a solo mother who met with Gaz (a policeman) who asserts his authority on the household by verbal abuse. Gaz is mean, mean , mean and the family obey his every command. Also set in 1978 against the Bastion Point occupation, the story portrays a humorous side to what was a national racial discriminatory episode.
From the first paragraph the reader recognizes the innocence, but sees the humourous aspect as Conrad prays to Tane, the Māori god of the forest. Dear Tane, I've never prayed to a god, so hope this is okay. If I get it wrong, don't strike me down with a thunderbolt or anything - I'm just a kid. Conrad Cooper needs a favour. He's just found out about Tane, the god of the forest, and he's decided that Tane is the perfect guy to solve his family problems. After all, the more high-profile gods probably have huge waiting lists, right? In return, Conrad will do anything to repay Tane, no matter how much trouble it causes. But will a Maori god listen to the prayers of a ten-year-old Pakeha boy? And, worse still, does Tane even exist? A must read.… (more)