12 Dec 2013

Brazil embassy launches billingual publication

6:36 am on 12 December 2013

The embassy of Brazil has launched a bilingual publication in Maori and English about its indigenous peoples.

Brazilian Ambassador Eduardo Gradilone.

Brazilian Ambassador Eduardo Gradilone. Photo: RNZ

The embassy of Brazil has launched a bilingual publication in Maori and English about its indigenous peoples.

Nga Kupu No Parihi 19 (Texts from Brazil 19) provides a comprehensive history of the 200 or so indigenous groups, including aspects of their culture, art and how they make up the population of Brazil today.

Ambassador Eduardo Gradilone, says he hopes the publication will inspire interactions between indigenous Brazilians and Maori.

He says he's already spoken to some Maori leaders about the huge possibilities, which could encourage more cultural exchanges such as native Brazilians coming to New Zealand and staying on a marae, or Maori going to Brazil and spending some time with tangata whenua there.

The book was translated into Maori by Ratu Tibble of Ngati Porou, who had to create new words for the publication.