A Game of Cards by Witi Ihimaera

Basic Happenings in the story

- Finds out Nani Miro is sick

-Grandson remembers when he was younger, Miro's 'Museum' playing cards

-Meets Nani Miro in her rrom, antiseptic smell, sickness

-Mokopuna explains why he hadn't come to see her ealier

-Nani miro talks about handing over responsibilites for looking after the interest of the Maori in Waituhi

-She asks him about uni' & love life, cause she wants to know the future is secure, he lies about both.

-Grandson goes back to his home in the area, but is soon called back.

-All the Waituhi family gather and homestead

-Nani Miro requests a game of cards and all join around the homestead.

-Nano dies

The Themes In this Book

-Importance if Family

-The nature of Friendship

-Loss of Maori Identity

The Last Wiata

Ma wai ra e taurima

Te marae I waho nei

Ma te tika

Ma te pono

Me te aroha e

Which means:

Who will assume responsibily

For the challenge that faces us

Let it be true

Let it be honest

Let it be valued relationships.

*Nani Miro tries to utilise strategies which will pressure the culture and tradition

*The grandson is the only one of her grandchildren that is trying to fulfil her expectaions

*Mrs Heta raises the point of who will take responsibilty when Nani Miro dies.

Character Information

NANI MIRO

-Symbolises the past

-represents the older generation

-Her house is like a museum, has many memories,treasures,heirlooms

-Love card games because it brings the family together and teaches strategy

-holds family together

-normally full of life- now sick

-wants to conserve the identity and culture

-wants to save the tribal lands for the younger generation

-stubborn and wants to be independant from the outside world.

GRANDSON

-Represents younger generation

-cares about his Nani

-One of his generation that does care about his family

-shifts