Maori Land Court Minute Books
In 2004 the Crown Forestry Rental Trust gifted to the Rotorua Public Library 90 volumes of the Maori Land Court Minute Books relating to the Central North Island.
The Maori Land Court Minute Books are an important source of information on Maori history. Don Stafford used them extensively when researching the books Te Arawa and Landmarks of Te Arawa. The Minute Books we have are:
Waiariki District
Mokoia 1, 2 & 3
Maketu 1, 3 - 9, 12, 14 - 27
Opotiki 1
Taheke 1 - 6
Taupo 1 - 13, 18, 19 ( Two books: pages 1 - 4 & pages 5 - 374 ), 20 - 23
Urewera Book 2 Vol. 1, Book 2 Vol. 2
Whakatane 1, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 4b, 8.
Waikato Maniapoto District
Otorohanga 15, 16, 40.
Tauranga 1, 2, 3.
Waikato 6, 28, 30, 31, 32 ,36.
Aotea District
Wanganui 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17-1, 17-2
Te Rangikaheke Manuscripts
The Grey Maori Manuscripts were collected by Sir George Grey in the middle of the 19th century and are held at the Auckland City Library.
Wiremu Maihi Te Rangikaheke of Ngati Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa, was by far the most prolific contributor to the Grey collection. Copies of the Te Rangikaheke Manuscripts were donated to the Rotorua Public Library by Ngati Rangiwewehi tribe. They contain notes on Te Reo Maori; Waiata; Whakatauki; Whakapapa; Pepeha; Tikanga and Karakia.
Arawa Notes
Items about Te Arawa history, many from the Maori Land Court Minute Books, brought together by historian Don Stafford while doing research for his book "Te Arawa".
Maori Magazines & Newspapers
The collection includes current and olders items such as:
- Te Ao Hou
- Journal of the Polynesian Society
- Te Wananga: the Journal of the Board of Maori Ethnological Research
- Whetumarama o te Kotahitanga
- Niupepa 1842-1933. (Old Maori newspapers on microfiche)
- Mana
- Tü mai
- Kökiri Paetae
Waitangi Tribunal Claims
The Library has a number of publications relating to Waitangi Tribunal claims. They include:
- Reports published by the Tribunal including the Rangahaua Whanui series of historical surveys.
- Some research reports relating to the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas.
- The Raupatu Document Bank: 139 volumes of photocopied documents from archives relating to land confiscated from Maori last century.
Maori Land Court Minute Books Indexes
The Maori Land Court Minute Books Indexes for 1865 -1910 are available for all districts - Waiariki, Tai Tokerau, Waikato - Maniapoto, Aotea and Takitimu, Tairawhiti and Waipounamu.
Local minute books are in the Waiariki Land Court next door to the Library.
Whakapapa and Tribal Histories
Traditionally whakapapa and historical tribal events were handed down through the rote system of learning. Some of this valuable information is available to the public through the Maori Land Court records and published books such as iwi histories.
Te Haurapa: an introduction to researching tribal histories and traditions by Charles Te Ahukaramu Royal is a useful guide for beginners.
Maori registration of births, deaths and marriages began about 1913 and the indexes are available on microfiche.
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| Copyright 2005 Rotorua District Council. |
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