Ko te Rongo Pai i tuhituhia e Ruka [Luke]

Ko te Rongo Pai i tuhituhia e Ruka [Luke]. Paihia, 1835.

1835

1835

W17. Williams Collection.

Hocken Library

In spite of poor equipment and the lack of good stationery, William Colenso's early print productions were a considerable achievement. His first work was a 16 page translation into Maori of the Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to the Ephesians, which appeared on 17 February 1835. His second (here on display) was the Gospel of Luke, translated by the Rev. William Williams. Demand for copies were high, with the price paid for each copy being three bushels of potatoes (Williams to Jowett, 6 January 1836). Colenso's output attracted great Maori interest and certainly increased the authority and extent of missionary influence.