Hello from NZ.
A good start would be to use MR G with a search for “ te reo Maori Language”. That would give you an introduction to todays movement to give renewed life to spoken and written Māori in general. Also moves by the hand signing community.
For those of us of European ancestry, who have researched into our ancestor’s NZ arrivals over the past 183 years, and looked up old records etc, the oral Māori language of the 1840’s has evolved immensely. And through the Missionaries, adopted an alphabet, that gave them the ability to convey language between distant parties, through the written word.
But regional, and kinship associations, can have considerable bearings on what is considered the correct way, to express oneself.
And like modern day UK, it is still possible to get an indication of a families roots, through local and regional dialects, and their choice of words.
Therefore when seeking translations of old written Māori correspondence etc, translators are not to keen, to put their name on the translation, unless they are from that family / genealogy, tribe, etc.
If you know a little of the history of the person, and seek answers from the Language department of the local University, they should be able to help.
Auckland AUT, and Waikato University have strong departments in this field, and should be able to cover the local tribes, for the upper half of the North Island.
Alan.
