Māori-language Newspapers 1842-1945: A Survey, With a Focus on the Expression of Oral Tikanga on the Page

Abstract

This paper canvasses Māori-language print media from the first monolingual newspaper in te reo Māori (the Māori language) in 1842 to what is believed to be the last, in 1945. It sets the publications in their social contexts and, importantly, discusses the ways in which the customs of oral culture transferred to the page. Also traversed are the ways in which the arrival of the telegraph and the development of journalistic conventions in the late 1800s changed the style of Māori-language news writing. Links go to digitised copies of the 18th century newspapers and credible, related sources of information.