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Bird Child by Patricia Grace

Photo: Penguin Random House NZ

Bird Child is told through the eyes of an unborn child and a Kākā bird whose stories are entwined. An essential third character in the story is the ngahere itself – the natural forest and bush terrain that the hapū navigate as they seek safety and shelter for the active labour of the mother. We are with with an expectant mother, making a life or death escape through the forest, pursued by the hoariri – the enemy.

Read by Miriama McDowell

Recorded by Steve Burridge         Audio Design by Phil Benge     Produced by Duncan Smith

  • Bird Child Part 1

    5:00 AM.We are with with an expectant mother, making a life or death escape through the forest, pursued by the hoariri - the enemy. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bird Child Part 2

    5:00 AM.Set in pre-european Aotearoa as an expectant mother and her Iwi make a perilous escape through the forest pursued by the hoariri - the enemy. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bird Child Part 3

    5:00 AM.The story, told through the eyes of an unborn child and a Kaka bird is set in pre-european Aotearoa and involves an expectant mother and her Iwi as they flee through the forest and across a mighty awa… Read more Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

We are with with an expectant mother, making a life or death escape through the forest, pursued by the hoariri – the enemy.