Plans for the Newtoun community’s Waitangi Day celebrations are well under way. The Tape Orchestra’s practising like mad. Monty and Mr Steve Vibrant are designing a poster. Rishi’s trying to land Lil Yacht Shifty … and Ms Ropata’s juggling it all because everyone wants in. There’ll be curry and cake, kapa haka, halal sausages, foam blasters, the Naenae dirtman, and kiss-the-goat — if Constable Rutene can manage to chase one down. In the meantime, Dreadflock’s considering a blog, Briony’s Mum’s being a helicopter, and everyone’s eating a lot of lolly cake.
In the boundary-riding tradition of the Annual project, Annual Ink’s latest title #Tumeke! brings you the lives, loves and larrikin spirit of an inner-city neighbourhood. The story is told through texts, Instagram posts, emails, fliers, committee minutes, posters, diary entries, blog posts, chatrooms, school homework, raps and the reliably bonkers community noticeboard. Stuffed with big personalities, surprising friendships and a little intrigue, this multimedia story brims with creativity and comedy, and everyday heartaches, too. Debut novelist Michael Petherick juggles a large cast and multiple story threads with panache, giving us a window on a vivid, warm-hearted community.
A narrative — but not quite as we know it — for middle readers and anyone who loves to connect.