News
Fundamental resource for Maori research
14 October 2004
| Source: | Humanities Research Network |
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A new bibliography, Books in Maori, has just been published by Reeds Publishing.
This new bibliography has been compiled in the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, edited by Phil Parkinson and Penny Griffith, and is based on the Library's extensive collections of publications and unpublished documents in the Maori language.
It is an important contribution to making scarce Maori language material from the past more easily accessible. It records all known printed Maori language publications up to the year 1900, with detailed annotations explaining the content of each and their historical context. Over 1600 publications are described, nearly 400 for the first time, arranged in chronological order, and with details where copies are located. Background information from archival sources also adds to the record of New Zealand printing history.
By making these scare and often fragile publications more widely known, Books in Maori seeks to open a particular window on the history of New Zealand and the interaction between Maori and Pakeha. As the reference work on 19th century Maori publishing it will be invaluable to students and collectors, as well as for libraries, museums and archives, and is expected to encourage further research into the development of the Maori language.
