This was the first collection of oral traditions in the Māori language published in New Zealand. It was put together by George Grey during his first term as governor. He had collected songs, chants and poetry from informants such as Te Arawa chief Te Rangikāheke. It was printed by Robert Stokes in Wellington. This volume was followed in 1854 by Ko nga mahinga a nga tupuna Maori: he mea kohikohi mai, which Grey translated and published the following year as Polynesian mythology & ancient traditional history of the New Zealanders: as furnished by their priests and chiefs – both of which were published in London – and in 1857 by Ko nga whakapepeha me nga whakaahuareka a nga tipuna o Aotea-roa which was published in Cape Town, in South Africa, where Grey was governor of the Cape Colony.
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Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
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