Te Korimako 1882-1890: Commentary

Te Korimako 1882-1888

The Bell Bird

Bibliographic Details    Background    Subject Matter    Availability

Bibliographic Details

Published: March 1882 - May 1888.

280 x 220mm., 4 to 12 pages, with 2 page supplements (coloured maps and scriptural instruction), 3 columns, mostly Maori (some articles have an English translation), issued monthly, no illustrations except for the maps issued as supplements and musical scores, no advertisements initially and then from No. 5 up to 4 pages of advertisements, the cost was 3 pence per copy and 2 shillings per year, postage paid, then in 1885 the price increased to 6 pence per copy and 4 shillings per year, postage paid. The imprint is,"He mea ta e Henare Perete mo te Rangatira o tenei nupepa i Winamu - tirete, Akarana, i te 25 o nga ra o Maehe 1882" [Printed by Henry Brett for the Proprietor of this newspaper, Wyndham Street, Auckland on the 25th day of March, 1882]. In the next issue the name of Te No [Mr Snow] was added as the proprietor of the newspaper. During 1883 supplements variously entitled 'He Hamumu', 'Apiti' and 'He Rawhi-Peketua na Te Korimako' were published by W. and J. Wilson, and A. H. Horton at their steam press, 137 Queen Street and 10-12 Wyndham Street, Auckland, New Zealand.

The newspaper was edited and published by Charles Davis with the support of the Americans, Mr. and Mrs. Snow. Davis had previously edited Te Karere Mäori, Te Waka o te Iwi, Te Whetu o te Tau, and Ko Aotearoa.

The last issue of Te Korimako was published in Auckland in May, 1888. Eighteen months later the newspaper was revived in Opotiki. For further physical details refer to Herbert W. Williams, A Bibliography of Printed Maori to 1900, Items 630 and 649a.

This paper is written in Maori with some passages translated into English.

Background

He Nupepa whakaatu i nga rongo o te ao katoa, nga tikanga o Te Whakapono me era atu mea. "Kei te Atua to tatou piringa". Nama 1. Akarana, Maehe, 1882.

The Bell Bird. A newspaper presenting news of the whole world, customs of the Faith and other things. "In God we trust". Number 1. Auckland, March 1882.

Te Korimako was established because:

  • He kitenga noku i te he o tena taha, i te heke-haere o te tupu, a i te kore reo o te motu nei hei whakaatu mo tenei taonga mo te tika, mo tera taru mo te he. Ko te take tena i oho-rere ai taku wakaaro kia kimihia he tikanga e purero ake ai nga Maori; a, kitea ana e taku ngakau, he nupepa reo Maori te hanga pai, kia puta ai he kupu ki te iti, ki te rahi, ki te tane, ki te wahine, ki te tamariki.... ta te mea, mo koutou ake tenei reo - tenei nupepa. Ko taku hiahia tenei, me puta te nupepa ki a ia wahi, ki a ia wahi, i roto i te marama kotahi ranei, i te rua wiki ra nei, i te wiki kotahi ra nei, kei i a tatou te whakaaro (March, 1882: 1).
  • I have seen the evil on that side (Maori side), the decadence of your manhood, nor is there any voice (newspaper) to declare the costliness of that which is right, and the worthlessness of that which is wrong. These are the reasons why my heart was suddenly moved to seek out some means of raising the Maoris, and I concluded in my mind that a newspaper in the Maori tongue would be an excellent thing, so that words could be communicated to both small and great; - to men, and women, and children....this voice, this newspaper is altogether your own. My desire is that this newspaper should be circulated in all respective places once a month, or once a fortnight, or once a week; for the matter will depend on you and myself.
  • The proprietors wanted to assist the advancement of the Mäori people by providing "instructive and healthful literature - The price ...within the reach of all" (May, 1882: 1). They requested European support from: "those who have the welfare of the native race at heart. Ki nga Pakeha e noho ana i nga takiwa Maori, - A e ngakau nui ana ki nga tangata Maori" (March, 1882: 2).

Ko te ingoa mo to tatou taonga, ko 'Te Korimako Rere Haere'. Ko tenei, e koro ma, akona mai to tatou Manu Maori, whangainga hoki ki 'nga hua o te tau' kia kaha ai tana kotete. Kei runga kei te hoka to tatou Manu, ko ana korero anake e rere atu ana ki rau-whenua, ki rau-iwi; koia hoki e kiia atu nei, whakaahurutia tenei mokai, kia puta ai ta tatou mahara, kia ara ai te kauwae o tenei motu, kia tamia iho te kino, kia whakamoritia ko te pai.

The name for our valuable newspaper is 'The Korimako'. And now, oh Sirs, teach this our Maori bird, and feed it with 'the fruits of the year,' so that it may possess sufficient energy to speak out. Our bird is on the perch; its sentiments only fly away to many lands, and many peoples, hence my request to you is, nourish this bird, by which means we shall enable ourselves to carry out our project - the advancement of this island; the dethronement of evil, and the ascendancy of good (ibid. : 1-2).

On Mr Snow's death in 1885, a Maori Press Association, Komiti o TE KORIMAKO was formed to organise the newspaper. The key people in this association were Charles Davis, Te Irimana, and Raureti Mokonuiarangi. Their prime objectives were to spread the Gospel among all people, to encourage temperance, hygiene, and habits of industry, and to educate their people and supply general news of current events. From January 1886 the change for the better was reflected in the publication of more letters, matters such as the landslip in which Te Heuheu was killed, the Tarawera eruption, and Te Kooti's prophecies.

Subject Matter

Contents of this newspaper include:

  • news of Parliament
  • new legislation concerning liquor and other things
  • news of Hokianga, Wairoa, Rotorua, Napier, Waikato, Auckland, Wharekauri (Chatham Islands)
  • report of Maori schools (in 1881 there were sixty four Maori schools)
  • St Stephens school at Parnell
  • a list of worldwide events from 1642 to 1880
  • the building of houses and mills by Pakeha
  • Henare Taiwhanga goes to England
  • overseas news:
    • from Egypt
    • from Italy
    • from Hawaii
    • from England
    • from America, the assassination of President Lincoln
  • news of world religions
  • waiata and whakatauki (proverbs)
  • letters from throughout New Zealand which often close with waiata
  • the census of the Pakeha, Maori, and Chinese, and the people of Wharekauri
  • Tawhiao's tour of the North Island
  • description and comment on events at Parihaka, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu
  • Te Kooti and Bryce at Manga-o-rongo (near Otorohanga)
  • obituaries
  • the death of Te Tirarau Kukupa in 1882
  • the establishment of Te Whetu o te Ata (Morning Star), a newspaper, by Ngati Whakaue
  • the visit by Makea Ariki, Queen of Rarotonga
  • short items on:
    • Taheretikitiki, the canoe of Paora Tuhaere
    • Ropata Wahawaha
    • Tawhiao
    • Mohi Tawhai
    • Paora Tuhaere
    • Wahanui
    • goldmining
    • voting
    • school for the deaf and dumb
    • Tarawera eruption

Availability

This newspaper is on microfilm and microfiche. Original copies are held at:

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington:

1882March - Dec.
1883Jan. - Dec.
1884Jan. - Dec.
1885Jan. - Dec.
1886Jan. - Dec.
1887Jan. - Dec.
1888Jan. - May

Auckland Institute and Museum Library:

1885Jan. - Dec.
1886Jan. - Dec.
1887Jan. - Dec.
1888Jan. - May

Auckland Public Library:

1882Oct. - Nov.
1883Jan. - Feb., Aug.- Nov.
1884Jan. - Dec. (July not held)
1885Jan. - Dec.
1886Jan. - June
1887Jan. - Dec.

Auckland University Library:

1884Oct. - Dec.
1885Jan. - Oct.

Canterbury University Library, Christchurch:

1883March - Dec.
1884Jan. - Feb.

Hocken Library, Dunedin:

1882March - Dec.
1883Jan. - Dec.
1884Jan. - Sept.
1885Jan. - Dec.
1886Jan. - Dec.
1887Jan. - Dec.
1888Jan. - May

The Parliamentary Library, Wellington:

1882March - Dec.
1883Jan. - Dec.
1884Jan. - Dec.
1885Jan. - Dec.
1886Jan. - Dec.