The English abstracts of the M_amn_ori language newspapers are designed to give an impression of a whole newspaper issue and to guide researchers to particular topics or information for translation. Although every item in an issue is noted, the abstracts do not represent a full translation of the entire contents. They summarise long items such as editorials, articles, and letters, and briefly record, sometimes by a complete translation, small items such as notices, advertisements, short news reports. In sum the abstracts represent an abbreviated form of a newspaper and so to ensure a complete reading of any item researchers will need to refer to or seek translation of the M_amn_ori text.
The abstracts follow the order of items in a newspaper and include the titles and subtitles. Apart from occasional additions in square brackets to clarify or inform, the abstracts report only what is in the newspaper. Where English translation is published in the paper this is noted together with a brief statement of content.
A few M_amn_ori words remain in the abstracts without translation because they are key words for researchers of M_amn_ori language and culture. These are highlighted and can be clicked on for explanation in the glossary. M_amn_ori names (personal, place and tribal) have been written according to contemporary spelling as far as this is known.
The English abstracts are being created by a team of researchers who, in 1999, began a three-year project into the history and contents of these newspapers. The project is funded by grants from the Marsden Fund and the Trustees of the National Library. The research team, from the Department of M_amn_ori Studies at the University of Auckland, comprises Professor Ngapare Hopa, Dr Jane McRae, Jenifer Curnow, and postgraduate researchers Dinah Paul, Hazel Petrie, Yvonne Sutherland, and Lyn Waymouth. They work collaboratively with the History of Print Culture in New Zealand Research Project, and with Professor Mark Apperley and Te Taka Keegan of the Computer Science Department, University of Waikato, who are carrying out the on-line conversion of the abstracts.
M_amn_ori words
The following M_amn_ori words have been retained in the abstracts because they are key words for researchers into M_amn_ori language and culture. They are used here generically and so refer to all the different kinds of texts within these genres.
karakia: incantations
k_omn_rero: narratives
waiata: sung and recited poetry
whakapapa: genealogy
whakatauk_imn_: sayings, set expressions
MLC: Member of the Legislative Council
MHR: Member of the House of Representatives
WMMS: Wesleyan Missionary Society }