Following a Powhiri by students at Middle School West Auckland's Bilingual Unit, and an unveiling, Taku Paipera, were gifted to the 25 students.

Born and bred te Reo speaker Matt Hakiaha, who spoke at the Auckland proceedings, described as a "wonderful present."

Mr Hakiaha, a Kaumatua (respected elder) and on Laidlaw College's Maori Advisory Council said, " Taku Paipera is done in a language that belongs to us, it's a language that reveals our identity and it's a language that is the heartbeat of our culture."

"For Maori children, it's their language put to print, the stories of the Bible from thousands of years are now conveyed in their sacred language. It will help build their self-esteem and pride."

"This Bible will lead to the preservation of te Reo and the continuity of te Reo and also the use and continuance of a traditional language to a modern language."

"I've personally wanted this for 30 years, because growing up as a child in a Christian home, there was only an adult Bible."

Alex Hawea, Community and Whanua Support Manager at the school said, "Taku Paipera is brilliant." A dad to a 9, 7 and 2 year old, he commented, "It will be a lot easier to read these Bible stories to my kids without having to translate them back into Maori."

As part of the formal Maori welcome, Mr Hakiaha read one of his favourite Bible stories, the feeding of the 5,000, with smoked fish and bread specially brought in for the students.

"No matter what race or nationality you are, food is important to every culture. To Jesus food is important, there are no barriers with food. It was important to Jesus to see people were feed."

Mr Hakiaha said he was particularly impressed with the use of colour in the Bible, the clear layout, short sentences, paraphrasing and macrons. "The first thing I thought when I saw the Bible was how vibrant and colourful the pictures were and how this made it easy to read and contemporary."

Taku Paipera is available at Bible Society New Zealand $16.99 a copy. To order go to www.biblesociety.org.nz/shop or telephone 0800 424 253

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