Monday, 26 July 2010

Māori Language Week: Te Mahi Kai

The theme for this year's Māori Language Week is Te Mahi Kai, the language of food. I'd like to share a great bi-lingual food-related quote from our collection, the "Proceedings of of the Kohimarama Conference" Tuesday, August 7th, 1860:

Ki te mea ka kai tahi tetahi iwi ki tetahi iwi he whakau tena i te aroha. Me te Karaiti hoki i te mutunga o tana mahi i kai tahi me ana akonga; ko te unga ano ia o te aroha ki nga Apotoro.

If one tribe take food with another tribe that implies the establishment of love (between them). In like manner, Christ, when he had finished his work, took bread with his disciples. This was the way in which he confirmed his love to his apostles.


There are also some great songs and karakia for use in kumera cultivation in "The Old-Time Maori"

Contributors