Titch is apprehensive about moving away from Auckland and everything she knows. But her father has lost his job as the company he worked for went broke. Titch gets a clue how different life will be in Ngāruawāhia when she sees her mum pack away all her nice dresses. They’ll be no fancy parties in the town where her Nan lives.

She settles in with her parents and little sister. Titch enjoys seeing her uncles and learning how to fish in the river. It’s near the river that she encounters an old Māori woman who seems to know her, but is not happy to see her. Watching the woman throw an eel trap in the river, Titch is intrigued. Her interest sparks a meeting with a local entity, so old it knows the history of the area, far back into the past when only Māori lived there.

Titch isn’t sure whether this creature is safe, but she is too fascinated to ignore it. Is it really talking to her? One thing she really wants its help with is the location of treasure her Uncle has told her and her cousins about. It is buried on their land, but is protected by a tapu.

But the more they discuss the fabled gold, the more it tempts them. They hatch plans to find it, despite the tapu. All the while, Titch’s new river friend is telling her more stories of her whakapapa and local connections.

It isn’t the only connection Titch makes, as a local girl called Tania from the marae across the river is soon her very best friend. Through Tania, Titch learns even more what it is to be Māori, and begins to understand who she is.

From intermediate, right through high school, Tania and Titch love sharing books, ideas and time together, not knowing that time is not on their side. When Tania finally is welcomed onto the Turangawaewae Marae, she wishes she had come years before.

Only pages into this wonderful story set in late 1970’s New Zealand, I felt like I was in a time capsule – launching back into the time when I grew up. So many markers of the time from 1978 through events like the Springbok tour in 1981 and beyond, made me nod in memory or smile.

From Bata Bullets, Beer crates, and talk of Bastion Point. The memory of orange and khaki vinyl chairs, Axminster carpet and the movie Jaws, these places in time had me immersed in the story with main character, Titch. I learnt along with her the story of the land her family now lived on and its painful history. But there is much humour too – her uncles larger than life on the page with their stories and antics.

A treasure hunt is always exciting, and learning all about a tapu and how important they are is just one of the important lessons for Titch as she begins to understand her own heritage and place in the world. But there are much harder lessons to come and Titch’s world changes yet again.

A beautiful snapshot of New Zealand through the eyes of a young girl discovering more about her whakapapa and iwi. I particularly loved the origin of the title, Nine Girls, the historical information in the Authors Note and that this story was loosely based on aspects of the author’s own life. A glossary of Māori words used within the text is also very helpful – also a perfect way to extend your own knowledge of te reo.

Author – Stacy Gregg

Age – 10+

Read an extract here

(2024, Penguin NZ, 1970’s, Springbok tour, Tapu, Buried gold, Family, Whanau, Whakapapa, Ngāruawāhia, Māori, Whenua, NZ, New Zealand, Aoteroa, Mystery, Eel, Taniwha, Friendship, Belonging, History, Waikato wars, Colonialism, Storytelling, Loss, Reading, School, Growing up, Humour, Funny, Step back in time)