Te Paipera Tapu 1868 | The Word of God in the Maori language
God's Word in the Maori Language. A faithful reprint of the original 1868 translation.
  • Proverbs 9:10

    Proverbs 9:10

    Te timatanga o te whakaaro nui ko te wehi ki a Ihowa; he matauranga hoki te mohiotanga ki nga mea tapu.
    (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding).

  • 1 Corinthians 2:9

    1 Corinthians 2:9

    Heoi ka rite te mea kua oti te tuhituhi, Kahore nei te kanohi i kite,kahore te taringa i rongo, kahore ano hoki i tapoko noa ki te ngakau o te tangata, nga mea kua rite mai i te Atua ma te hunga e aroha ana ki a ia
    (But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.)

  • Psalms 23:4

    Psalms 23:4

    Ae, ahakoa haere ahau i te awaawa o te atarangi o te mate, kahore he kino e wehi ai ahau: no te mea kei taku taha koe; ko to rakau ko to tokotoko ko ena hei oranga ngakau moku.
    (Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.)

  • Psalms 12:6

    Psalms 12:6

    He Kupu poke-kore nga kupu a Ihowa: he hiriwa i whakakorea nei te para i roto i te oumu whenua, he mea tuku whitu.
    (The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.)

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Reprint of Te Paipera Tapu 1868

For many years the trustworthy and very highly esteemed 1868 translation of the Bible in Māori has been very hard to obtain. However, all of that has now changed! The Trinitarian Bible Society (TBS) of New Zealand, Aotearoa, is extremely pleased to be able to make this faithful Māori translation of God’s Word readily available once again. This proven translation has been highly acclaimed for its idiomatic relevance to the Māori people.

2

Why use this translation?

The 1868 edition is an accurate translation in classical Māori, is typeset with macrons, and is faithful to the Divinely-preserved Hebrew and Greek manuscripts that the church of God has always used. Deuteronomy 4:2: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.” This 1868 translation contains the entire Word of God, with not a verse missing. This is a high-quality print to last a lifetime.

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First printed in 1827

The 1868 translation was itself the culmination of 40 years of labour, beginning in August 1827 when the first Scriptures in Māori came from a press in Sydney. At this time only six chapters, four from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament, were available. In 1835, New Zealand’s first printing press arrived in Paihia, and it was here that a complete edition of the Māori New Testament was eventually printed by William Colenso in 1837.

About this Bible

Cover

The cover of this reprint of the Maori Bible of 1868: black with gold letters.

Table of contents

One page table of contents.

Hoani 3:16

Koia ano te aroha o te Atua ki te ao, homai ana e ia tana Tama kotahi, kia kahore ai e mate te tangata e whakapono ana ki a ia, engari kia whiwhi ai ki te oranga tonutanga.

Latest From Blog

Napier Port Gospel Mission

Mar 14, 2018

We received a response from evangelists Edward & Marie Booth who work around Napier Port on our Te Reo calendars:

The Maori Word of Life Calendars have been most acceptable to our locals. Very favourably received.

Paipera Tapu now online

Apr 15, 2016

We are very pleased to announce that the Maori Bible 1868 can now be read online in its entirety. It has passed quite a few verification steps, so we are confident it matches the printed edition exactly. But there could still be issued in the printed edition of course. As we strife for 100% accuracy, any reports of printing errors will be gladly received.

An Australian customer

Dec 2, 2013

One of our customers recently send a gift Bible to his nephew in Australia. Here some pictures. Giving away a Bible is a good idea!

Testimonials

  • That the word of God is the only true source of knowledge in Divine things. Let no one despise a small beginning; a match yields but a small flame, but who can extinguish the forest it has lit!
    Ruini 1858