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Story: Cultural go-betweens

Rongo pai o Matiu

Missionary, printer and cultural go-between William Colenso published a Māori translation of the Bible, which proved hugely popular among Māori eager to learn to read and write. This is the first page of the gospel according to Matthew.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-005727-F

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

Mark Derby, Cultural go-betweens – Missionaries, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/26949/rongo-pai-o-matiu (accessed 23 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 22 March 2011.