World Book Night 2026: Rūaumoko Rising

This year’s World Book Night theme, The Mountains Are Calling, immediately pulled me toward Aotearoa’s deep geological and cultural layers. Instead of choosing a traditional mountain text, I found myself absorbed in a technical paper: Rūaumoko: More than just a symbol by N. Taute, T. Fa’aui and J.M. Ingham from the University of Auckland’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Their exploration of Rūaumoko as both atua and earth‑shaping force offered a powerful way to think about mountains not as static forms, but as living, shifting presences.

That duality—cultural story and geological reality—became the heart of my 3D contribution.

Concept

I wanted to create something that felt like a book, a map, and a small act of movement all at once. The structure folds flat to fit the A5 brief, but opens along the fault line that runs through Aotearoa. The opening itself becomes an echo of tectonic motion: the land parting, the story revealing itself.

The front cover holds a map of New Zealand with the fault line marked—our slice of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The closure of the book sits directly on that line, so the act of opening the work mirrors the forces beneath our feet.

The back expands the view to the wider Pacific, showing the full Ring of Fire encircling the ocean. It felt important to place Aotearoa within that larger context, acknowledging that our mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes are part of a vast, interconnected system.

 Inside the Work

Opening the structure reveals a pop‑up volcano rising from the centre. Around it spirals the creation story of Rūaumoko—atua of earthquakes, volcanoes, and the seasons—whose restless movement shapes the land from below. The text encircles the volcano like a pulse, reminding us that stories and science often describe the same forces in different languages.

This interplay between engineering paper and pūrākau became the guiding thread: two knowledge systems, both explaining why the ground moves and mountains grow.

Process

I’ll be sharing two photos alongside this post:

• my yellow‑and‑red prototype, where I worked out the mechanics and proportions
• the final orange‑and‑red version, where the colours echo heat, magma, and the energy of Rūaumoko

The pop‑up engineering was its own small challenge—balancing height, foldability, and the need to collapse neatly into an A5 envelope. The final structure opens cleanly and stands firmly, which feels like a small triumph given the constraints.

About World Book Night 2026

This year’s brief invited artists to respond to a text about mountains, creating a 2D or 3D work that folds flat for mailing. Organised by Sarah Bodman and Linda Parr with input from Nancy Campbell, WBN brings together artists from around the world for an exhibition, mail art swap, and online gallery. All works will be shown at Bower Ashton Library, UWE Bristol, from April to July 2026.

I love participating each year—there’s something special about sending a piece of work out into the world and receiving another artist’s response in return.

Closing Thoughts

Mountains are often seen as symbols of permanence, but in Aotearoa they are reminders of constant change. Rūaumoko’s presence beneath the land keeps everything in motion. Responding to this theme through both science and story felt like a way to honour that dynamism.

I’m looking forward to seeing the full collection of works when the exhibition opens—and to discovering whose piece will arrive in my mailbox in return.