Ngapuhi is the largest iwi in New Zealand, and its people have occupied the northern North Island, from Tamaki in the south to Te Rerenga Wairua in the north, from the time of their arrival from Hawaiki. Ko Tautoro, Te Pito o Toku Ao is Ngapuhi elder Hone Sadler's powerful account of the origins, history, and culture of the Ngapuhi people--a profound introduction to the Sacred House of Puhi. Sadler illustrates the unbroken chain of Ngapuhi sovereignty by looking in depth at his own hapu of Ngati Moerewa, Ngati Rangi, and Ngai Tawake ki te Waoku of Tautoro and Mataraua. The narrative is told through the weaving together of karakia and whakapapa, histories, and korero that have been part of the oral traditions of Ngapuhi's whanau, hapu, and iwi and handed down through the generations on marae and other gathering places. Presented first to open the Ngapuhi's claim before the Waitangi Tribunal, Sadler's narrative is a powerful Maori oral account, presented here in Te Reo and in English on facing pages, of the story of New Zealand's largest iwi.

Shortlisted for PANZ Book Design Awards: Best Non-Illustrated Book 2015 and PANZ Book Design Awards: Best Cover 2015.

Renowned Ngapuhi elder Hone Pereki Sadler (Ngapuhi, Ngati Moerewa) was born in 1950 and grew up at the feet of his elders in the Tautoro Valley in Northland. He spoke only Maori until he went to school. He was educated at Northland College, Kaikohe, and then worked as a shearer and in forestry before training as a secondary school teacher. He has taught at Northland Polytechnic, where he taught Maori language before becoming HoD Maori Studies and then HoD Arts, and is now a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, teaching Maori language, oral literature and Matauranga Maori. He has a Masters of Matauranga Maori from the Wananga o Raukawa (writing his thesis on 'Wahine Rangatira o Ngapuhi, Te Tu o te Wahine i roto o Ngapuhi') and has also written on Maori knowledge, treaty claims and ancient funeral lore. Sadler is celebrated Maori orator, passionate about reviving the Maori language, which he believes must start in the home. He is well-known for his work in treaty claims and is turning his account of the origins, history and culture of the Ngapuhi people, presented in support of the Ngapuhi treaty claim, into a book, Ko Tautoro, Te pito o Toku Ao: A Ngapuhi Narrative (Auckland University Press, August 2014). He has been a member of Te Ara Wananga, which provides advice on the nature of Maori content in Te Ara / Encyclopedia of New Zealand, and a member of the Board of the James Henare Centre.