Hands on Tauranga offers students stimulating and original learning opportunities with real museum objects that support the New Zealand curriculum at primary and secondary school level.
'Koro Wētā', a bilingual picture book for children, is written by Heather Haylock, and translated into te reo Māori by Waikato University lecturer (Tauranga campus) Ngairo Eruera. This book also comes with a 30cm soft toy wētā so your students can get up close to this fascinating insect.
"Gumboots are the favourite footwear of the hero of this picture book - but also of the giant wētā who thinks they make a perfect home.
After a battle of wills and yuck moments meeting Koro Wētā, a happy compromise for co-existence is found: a wētā hotel and some new gumboots - that are see-through!
A perfect mix of giggles and icky, Koro Wētā is a whimsical way for young readers to gain insight about the fascinating wētā. At the back of the book, kids can learn more about the five species of wētā and what makes them so wonderful."
Date published: 2025
Author: Heather Haylock
Illustrator : Sarah Trolle
Translator: Ngairo Eruera
subject area: Social Science, Science, The Arts, Languages, Te reo Māori
subject themes: environment, kaitiaki,
handling collection number: HC121
