PERIODICAL IN MAORI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 703, 1 July 1929, Page 11

PERIODICAL IN MAORI

NEW PUBLICATION IN AUCKLAND NATIVES KEEN READERS For distribution among the Maoris of New Zealand, a periodical, “Te Waka o Hato Petera,” especially connected with St. Peter's Training School, Northcote, has been published in Auckland. The first issue, for the mouth of July, contains interesting subjects and comment in connection with St. Peter's School. The title, itself, signifies the “canoe or message from St. Peter’s.” All the articles are printed in Maori and the introductory page concerns the work among the natives of Father Carlo and Father Joseph. References are made to the Arawa, Matatua, Rarawa, Tuwharetoa, Tuhourangi and Ngaiterangi peoples—all Auckland tribes. Then follows a catechism on the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico between “Tame Pakiki,” a term adopted to personify “Questioning Thomas,” a Maori youth, and a priest. The vesting of the Northcote property on which the school stands in the Bishop of Auckland is described, there is an obituary on Marshal Foch, an account of the visit to the school by the Hon. H. Atrnore, Minister of Education, is given, and the final article explains the significance of Anzac Day. NATIVES AND NEWS In the old days of the Waikato War there were several native newspapers printed in bush settlements, and even the rebel, Te Kooti Rikirangi, had a newspaper for his followers. The most interesting Maori newspaper of the present time is issued in Ratana Pa, North Island West Coast, by Tahu Wiremu Ratana, the “prophet.” It is “Te Whetu Marama”— “The Monthly Star”—and is mainly devoted to urgings on behalf of the Ratana followers. Ratana adherents style themselves Nga Morehu, claiming themselves to be the remnants in spirit of the Maori race. Little is seen of Ratana’s newspaper and comparatively few specimens reach the hands of the white population. Maoris were quick to follow the example of white printers on their arrival in New Zealand and they rapidly learned newspaper and pamphlet production, even with a rudimentary knowledge of the English alphabet. Violent exhortations were contained in some of the publications of the Maori War period. Today, Maoris are eager readers of daily newspapers and close followers of the politics of the Dominion. The modern move in the native race is to learn the European viewpoint. One provincial newspaper even conducts two columns of news in Maori weekly for native readers.