For over a century, the Edmonds brand has been a trusted companion in kitchens across the country. Now, a special version of their children’s cookbook, “My First Cookbook,” is about to be launched in te reo Māori, the Māori language.
The beautifully illustrated cookbook, called “Taku Puka Tohutao Tuatahi,” is designed for tamariki (children), but it’s being hailed as a fantastic tool for those learning the Māori language.
Dr Jen Martin, the book’s translator, spoke to Te Karere about the significance of this cookbook. She highlighted how it can help parents incorporate te reo Māori into their homes, particularly in the context of cooking and baking.
“By producing these kinds of books, we’re publishing resources to support the use of te reo in the context of cooking and baking,” Dr Martin said. “It supports parents as they find ways to use te reo among themselves and their kids.”
This te reo version not only includes the delicious recipes from the English edition but also features popular Māori dishes.
“One of the things I enjoy most about this book, we’ve added some recipes for Māori food, so there’s raw fish and boil-up, those sorts of foods,” Dr Martin explained.
The cookbook is part of the Kotahi Rau Pukapuka initiative, which aims to produce 100 high-quality reo Māori books. This project has already brought beloved titles like “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” into te reo Māori.
The release of “Taku Puka Tohutao Tuatahi” is eagerly anticipated and is set to hit shelves on Tuesday. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the language and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand while enjoying some delicious recipes!
