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Story: Māori newspapers and magazines – ngā niupepa me ngā moheni

Edited version of 'Aotearoa'

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Edited version of 'Aotearoa'

In 1878 a former land court judge, Thomas Henry Smith, translated the hymn (later the national anthem) 'God defend New Zealand' into Māori at the request of the premier, Sir George Grey. When the editor of Māori-language newspaper Te Korimako, Charles Davis, received a copy of the translation he felt that it needed a decent copy-edit. This manuscript page is a copy with his editorial changes, which were then published in Te Korimako.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: MSX-5197

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jane McRae, Māori newspapers and magazines – ngā niupepa me ngā moheni – Philanthropist and church newspapers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/42406/edited-version-of-aotearoa (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jane McRae, published 26 August 2013.