Maori Proverbs

Te Ao Hou, September 1964, Page 50

Maori Proverbs by A. E. Brougham and A. W. Reed A. H. & A. W. Reed, 12/6 reviewed by Bill Parker From almost the earliest period of settlement, Pakehas have shown considerable interest in the proverbs of the Maori people. Sir George Grey's ‘Ko Nga Whakapehapeha Me Nga Whakaahuareka A Nga Tupuna’ is the principal published source of Maori proverbs. The Rev. Richard Taylor's ‘Te Ika A Maui’ duplicated and added many more to Grey's collection, and further contributions have come from William Colenso, Judge F. H. Smith, S. Percy Smith, Elsdon Best, James Cowan, Raymond Firth and others. In more recent times Maori writers—the Rev. R. T. Kohere in ‘Te Konae Aronui’, H. T. M. Wikiriwhi and the Rev. K. M. Ihaka in ‘Te Ao Hou’, John Grace in ‘Tuwharetoa’, Leslie Kelly in ‘Tainui’, J. H. Mitchell in ‘Takitimu’, and others—have at least come up with illuminating comments to throw more light on a number of these proverbs.