Back in 1476, William Caxton established the first printing press in England, setting it up in Westminster, London. This meant that books, previously copied by hand, could be printed for the masses… well, those who could read… and study the works of the likes of Chaucer.
However, it was another 350 years before such a luxury arrived in New Zealand. The first one taken by the Reverend William Yate, was not much of a success, though. This small printing press was used to produce a version of the third catechism in Māori, Ko te katihama III. Doing so proved very difficult and so he did not progress any further.
But it was today, 29th December in 1834 that Church Missionary Society printer William Colenso arrived in the Bay of Islands with New Zealand’s second printing press. Within six weeks, he had produced a 16-page pamphlet containing two of Paul’s epistles in Māori. Three years after his arrival he began printing 5000 copies of William Williams’ 356-page Māori New Testament, followed by 27,000 copies of the Book of Common Prayer.
However, it is not recorded as to whether or not the Māori people could read – or how many…
However, it was another 350 years before such a luxury arrived in New Zealand. The first one taken by the Reverend William Yate, was not much of a success, though. This small printing press was used to produce a version of the third catechism in Māori, Ko te katihama III. Doing so proved very difficult and so he did not progress any further.
But it was today, 29th December in 1834 that Church Missionary Society printer William Colenso arrived in the Bay of Islands with New Zealand’s second printing press. Within six weeks, he had produced a 16-page pamphlet containing two of Paul’s epistles in Māori. Three years after his arrival he began printing 5000 copies of William Williams’ 356-page Māori New Testament, followed by 27,000 copies of the Book of Common Prayer.
However, it is not recorded as to whether or not the Māori people could read – or how many…
