13 Dec 2025

My First Ikura

From Saturday Morning, 10:32 am on 13 December 2025
The cover of My First Ikura features an illustration of a young girl in a purple t-shirt holding an urn.

My First Ikura (Taku Ikura Tuatahi) is a book for growing girls by Qiane Matata-Sipu. Photo: Supplied

The founder of storytelling platform Nuku has published a book to normalise discussion around a young woman's first menstrual cycle. 

Journalist and writer Qiane Matata-Sipu is hoping Ikura will bring light to a subject that has traditionally been taboo. 

Qiane Matata-Sipu is a smiling woman with her hair pulled back, long white earrings and a pale denim jacket.

Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Wai o Hua ki Te Ahiwaru me Te Ākitai, Waikato, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Pikiao) founded the indigenous wahine storytelling platform Nuku. Photo: Supplied