Story: Māori education – mātauranga

William Colenso's printing press

William Colenso's printing press

This printing press belonged to the Anglican missionary William Colenso. He set up a printing press at Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, in 1834, but until this Columbian printing press arrived in 1842 he found it difficult to prepare material quickly and in large quantities. The printing of early material used for teaching was religious in nature. Passages of the Bible were used to teach Māori how to read.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-050378-F
Photograph by Trevor Ullyat

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ross Calman, 'Māori education – mātauranga - Missionaries and the early colonial period', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/34872/william-colensos-printing-press (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ross Calman, published 20 Jun 2012