COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | William & Tiraha

WILLIAM AND TIRAHA
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We’re excited to be giving away two copies of William & Tiraha by Michael Littlewood to our GrownUps members!

To be in the draw, simply make sure you’re a GrownUps member, signed up to our newsletter, and fill in your details at the bottom of the page.

WILLIAM AND TIRAHAAbout William & Tiraha

Historical evidence and family lore combine to produce a compelling work of biographical and historical fiction for adventure-seekers, seafarers and anyone intrigued by the earliest days of Pākehā–Māori relations.

Paihia, 1823, and William Cook is injured and abandoned by his whaling ship. He is nursed at the Mission by Tiraha, whāngai daughter of the great chief Nene.

Fifty years later, this couple’s grandson meets his grandparents for the first time and hears the story of their long life together.

Abraham senses long-buried secrets as his grandfather tells how, abandoned once again, this time with a young family in the isolated deep south, he and Tiraha drew on the knowledge and skills of both their cultures to survive and to escape.

Pioneer shipbuilders on remote Stewart Island, and making ingenious use of scarce resources, William and Tiraha eventually cross the Tasman with their growing family to deliver a new-built vessel for the Weller brothers. They return, finally, to the Bay of Islands to witness the coming of British law, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the Flagstaff Wars.

Despite the tensions from their own divided loyalties in these turbulent times, William and Tiraha grow to understand each other and the new country they are helping to shape.

This book offers a relevant insight into New Zealand history. William and Tiraha were directly affected by iconic events, including the Musket Wars, pioneering shipbuilding, William Hobson’s arrival, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the Flagstaff Wars. This is compelling fiction, based on fact, at its best.

About the Author

Michael Littlewood is a retired lawyer, employee benefit consultant, director and academic. He worked in New Zealand, Vanuatu and the United Kingdom.

Michael has written extensively about public policy issues associated with saving, retirement and pensions, including a book How to create a competitive market in pensions – the international lessons (Institute of Economic Affairs, London, 1998). He maintains an interest in those issues.

He had a ‘Who do you think you are?’ moment in 2010 when he first saw a photo of his great-great-great-grandmother, Tiraha Cook. That prompted him to write William and Tiraha’s story.

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Terms and conditions

    1. You must be a GrownUps member and subscribed to our newsletter to be eligible to enter.

    2. The competition closes on 12th November 2025. Winners will be notified via email by 13th November 2025.

    3. It is your responsibility to provide a correct New Zealand postal address for prize delivery. GrownUps is not responsible for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.

    4. Winners will be drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.

    5. GrownUps employees and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

    6. By entering, you agree to GrownUps using your name on social media as a winner of the competition.

    7. One entry per household.

    8. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other items.

    9. You must reside in New Zealand, as the prize can only be delivered within New Zealand.

    10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter. Please ensure your membership details are up to date in your dashboard.