Translation, editing and proofreading
Do you want your beautiful kaupapa translated or edited?
Makaira’s expertise will make it sing!
I am a Toi Reo Māori translator certified by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori with expertise in editing, translating and proofreading documents in te reo, English and Spanish. With an eye for detail and immense creativity, I specialise in bringing artistic kaupapa alive in words that honour and celebrate the beauty and depth woven into the original document.
A singing tātarakihi
Whether it’s children’s picture books, educational resources, song lyrics or original waiata and karakia, my magic is anchoring concepts within the power and beauty of te reo rangatira to create deeply meaningful text that readers and writers love.
The kaupapa of Tā te Manawa retreats came from teaching the tikanga part of my Make Mistakes in Māori course, explaining Māori cultural concepts in ways students could not just understand, but experience through guided wānanga. My depth of understanding these cultural concepts is informed both by years of learning from my kaumātua and kaiako and by my own kura huna, my powerful inner wisdom.
The strength that I access when translating and editing is this ability to whakapapa concepts to get to the heart of the matter, the wairua essence of stories and the deeper messages they seek to tell. As an artist, I then paint this picture using vibrant words that bring its power to life.
Moira Wairama, award-winning writer & co-founder of Baggage Books.
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"Makaira was one of the editors and the proofreader for our children’s picture book: Nani Jo me Ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga, winner of the 2024 NZ Children and Young Adult Te Kura Pounamu Book Award. Makaira’s sensitivity and respect while working on this book was reflective of his own skills as a writer and creative in te reo Māori. I have also employed him to check shorter Māori texts, often at short notice and for a very reasonable charge. I myself am not a fluent writer in te reo Māori and having Makaira’s support for editing and proofreading is invaluable. I fully recommend his services for anyone needing translating, editing or proofreading in te reo Māori."
I am learning five specific mihimihi in as many languages as possible to give everyone I meet the basic respect of being greeted in their own language. Read the article at:
A Journey of One Hundred Languages
“It’s only a small effort and a smattering of words against the sea of culture and history, but my small effort in many directions has taken some of the bitterness from my heart and brought me into relation with the entire world of people.”
A journey of one hundred languages | E-Tangata
Educational Resources
As Poutokomanawa collective, my friend Priya Gain and I developed 3 bilingual, bicultural arts education resources:
Aruaru mai Tawhiti and Chase across the Waves (English) explore through music the story of Kupe's legendary fight with the giant wheke that led to the discovery of Aotearoa.
Te Koha a Tāne retells the pūrākau of Rātā and the Waka from the perspective of the tōtara, using music, dance, drama and art to explore our relationship with the forest, and consider kaitiakitanga in ways tamariki can relate to.
Beautifully illustrated storytelling narratives are woven throughout both resources, which come in both te reo and English versions, translated by myself. Access them here.
Hā Ora was developed to nurture the hauora of kaiako and ākonga returning to the classroom after lockdown by connecting to nature, the senses and creative play (here).