The Ocean Remembers

Author(s): Danika Thompson, Henrietta Makatogia, Dr Ramona Tiatia, Sandra Tisam, Jonjon Tolovae, Ziu Freshwater, Sarah Afeaki and Henry Taripo

Book Specs: Poetry, Text in English and Pacific Languages (Cook Islands Māori, Niue, Sāmoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga), Paperback, 68 pgs
Audience: Teen and young adult 
Publication Date: 6 July 2026
ISBN 9781067050023

A powerful multi-lingual poetry collection connecting Pacific identity, language and the moana. The Ocean Remembers brings together eight poets of Cook Islands Māori, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga heritage in a moving collection of poetry exploring ancestry, belonging, healing and the enduring relationship between Pacific peoples and the ocean.

Created through the Creative New Zealand and Ministry for Pacific Peoples Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories initiative, this collection celebrates the richness of Pacific languages, cultures and storytelling traditions through contemporary voices that speak to both young people and adults.

Through themes of identity, family, language, migration, resilience and connection, The Ocean Remembers invites readers to reflect on the stories carried across generations and the knowledge held within the moana.

Featuring works by Danika Thompson, Henrietta Makatogia, Dr Ramona Tiatia, Sandra Tisam, Jonjon Tolovae, Ziu Freshwater, Sarah Afeaki and Henry Taripo, this collection offers a diverse range of Pacific perspectives while celebrating the strength, beauty and resilience of our communities.