Roimata Smail and Wai Ako Books in the media
Our books have been featured in national and local media, sparking kōrero and reaching readers across Aotearoa.
Roimata Smail
Roimata Smail is a human rights lawyer, educator, and bestselling author of Understanding Te Tiriti and Understanding Hauora. She is a barrister with over 20 years of experience specialising in cases related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and a sought-after speaker across Aotearoa. To book Roimata for keynotes, panels, or workshops, email info@treatytraining.com.
- Roimata Smail on Unfiltered with Dave Letele
- The Big Idea – Using design, writing, art and music for education and hope
- The Post – Waitangi Tribunal's role important as ever
- NBR – Treaty lawyer builds basics for boards
- Kete Books – NZ Chart Toppers of 2025: Non-Fiction
- E-Tangata – On the ground in Geneva
- The Spinoff – Unity Books Bestseller Chart (May 2025)
- E-Tangata – The wisdom is in the contrast
- E-Tangata – The promise we keep
- Te Ao News – Lawyer unsurprised most submissions oppose Treaty Principles Bill
- NZ Woman's Weekly
- NZ Herald Listener – Top 10 Bestselling NZ Books (February 2025)
- RNZ – Treaty Talks Episode 1: An Overview
- Te Ao News – Ko te mātauranga mō Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Newsroom – This week's bestselling books (January 31)
- The Spinoff – Unity Books Bestseller Chart (January 31)
- NZ Herald – Rotorua Library hosts Te Tiriti kōrero with Roimata Smail
- Scoop – Anonymous donors gift bestselling Te Tiriti book to all MPs
- The Spinoff – Unity Books Bestseller Chart (January 24)
- Booksellers NZ – Nielsen BookScan
- Te Ao News – Concerns for Te Tiriti as submission deadline looms
- NZ Herald – Treaty Bill submissions surge
- The Spinoff – Unity Books Bestseller Chart for 2024
- Newsroom – The bestselling books at Christmas
- 1News – Every high school in NZ to receive copy of new Treaty of Waitangi book
- The Spinoff – Anonymous donor buys Te Tiriti handbook for every secondary school
- NZ Herald – Anonymous donor gifts Understanding Te Tiriti to all NZ high schools
- Waatea News – Māori barrister creates Treaty Bill submissions template
- NZ Herald – Author and lawyer creates tool to help Kiwis oppose Treaty Principles Bill
- RNZ Mapuna – If the principles are not there, it's easy for Te Tiriti to be forgotten
- Stuff – How well do you know Te Tiriti?
- Te Ao News – E oho! National Library series aims to demystify Treaty principles
- NZ Herald – Waitangi Tribunal lawyer joins National Library for colab
- The Lawyer Magazine – National Library welcomes Waitangi Tribunal lawyer
- The Spinoff – Unity Books Bestseller Chart (June 2024)
- RNZ Afternoons – Demand high for book on the Treaty of Waitangi
- 1News – Govt moves to replace or repeal Treaty principles clauses from laws
- The Spinoff – A Te Tiriti reading, watching and listening guide
- Auckland Writers Festival – Te Tiriti 101
- 95bFM – Understanding Te Tiriti with Roimata Smail
- The Post – Debating Treaty principles a distraction from basic legal facts
- Māori Law Review – Book Review: Treaty Law
- RNZ – Waitangi Tribunal hears new plan to improve Māori health
- TVNZ – Marae
- Stuff – Government triggers impressive legal tsunami for Māori
- NZ Herald – Three unstoppable women on the front lines honouring Te Tiriti
- Waatea News – Challenge to fishing Covid vax roll out
- Stuff Interactives – The Void
- RNZ – Roimata Smail and Gilbert Taurua
- ACE Aotearoa – New approach to Te Tiriti
- NZ Herald – Waitangi Tribunal lawyer teaches Kiwi kids about Te Tiriti
- Te Ao News – Lawyer creates online platform to teach tamariki history of Aotearoa
- RNZ Nine to Noon – Children interacting with Aotearoa's history
- RNZ Nine to Noon – Learning te Reo with help from a ukulele
- NZ Law Society – Lawyer creates te Reo learning resource for schools
- Education Gazette – Student-led te Reo Māori initiative boosts confidence
A Different Kind of Kiwi
A Different Kind of Kiwi, the first book written in New Zealand by a former Laos refugee in their own words, has been covered in community media:
"Torbay resident is first Kiwi Laos refugee to write a personal account of their escape." Focus on Community, July 2023
This inspiring true story brings to life the experience of surviving a re-education camp, escaping Laos, and beginning a new life in Aotearoa, written with vivid detail and hope.
