Māori translations make history with international book publisher

Te reo Māori joined 45 languages that international publishing house Dorling Kindersley (DK) produce when seven fully translated titles were launched on March 9.

1. Tuarangi (Space)
2. Ka Haere A Clara Raua Ko Buster Kanikanimarama (Clara and Buster go moondancing)
3. Taku Peke Kura (My Schoolbag)
4. Tinana Tangata (Human Body)
5. Poraka (Watch me grow, Frog)
6. Ngā tu momo rahi (Sizes)
7. Moku Katoa (all about Me)

These books are the first ever DK titles to be translated entirely into Māori.

The Penguin Group of Publishers was contacted by the head of the Māori Language Unit in the Ministry of Education to discuss the translation of selected DK titles to provide high quality early learning and primary school material.

Penguin teamed up with KCSM Consultancy Solutions Ltd, who provide consultancy services to support Maori development, and successfully obtained a contract to select, translate and produce seven DK titles in te reo Māori.

Once the production process was completed, the books joined international print runs of translated DK books in China, where the same titles were being printed in Taiwanese, Chinese and Indian.

Fifty percent of the stock will be distributed by Penguin on behalf of the Ministry of Education, while a further 25 percent has been set aside for the Books in Homes and Kids in Homes schemes.

These DK titles are all available at Ngā Kete Wānanga-o-Ōtautahi: Christchurch City Libraries.