The launch of Te Tino Kōrero, the first in the Superbible series of comics which tell the Bible story, was held at Tauwhare Gospel Chapel last Thursday. Interested parties from Auckland, Whanganui, and Te Puke attended as well as local people.
Reach Beyond (NZ) had already helped to distribute these Bible comics around the world in 40 different languages, as well as developing an app to distribute them digitally. Then, in 2019, in collaboration with Maori Postal Aotearoa which publishes bilingual Christian resources, they began looking for someone to translate them into Te Reo Maori. This was finally done by Prof Tom Roa of the University of Waikato. The comics are of particular interest to rangatahi, but will also be made available free of charge to prisoners.
Russell Grainger from Reach Beyond introduced Bob Arend who was responsible for the digital version of the comic, and then he explained how Te Tino Kōrero had been produced. Maraki Williams, the director of Maori Postal Aotearoa also spoke of their role, and their aspirations for the distribution of these comics around Aotearoa.
The ceremony concluded with a blessing by Matua Te Mape Haimona.
