and a shoutout to the two Māori men who travelled to Vienna in 1859, got themselves apprenticed as printers (and incidentally became accomplished ballroom dancers), and finally had an audience with Franz Josef where they charmed him so much that he sent a printing press to New Zealand….which was promptly used from 1861 to print the newspaper of the Kingitanga anti-colonial movement.
Just researched a bit- they’re names are Wiremu Toetoe and Te Hemara Rerehau Paraone and it’s quite a fascinating story.
In 1859, Wiremu Tumohe and Te Hemara Rerehau Paraone joined the crew of the Austrian frigate Novara which visited Auckland in December 1858. In September 1859 they arrived in Austria. They spent nine months in Austria where they worked at the State Printing House in Vienna. They learnt English, German and “all branches of printing, and drawing”. Before their departure from Austria, they were presented to the German Court and were given a printing press. They were also presented to King Wilhelm 1 of Wurttemburg and to Queen Victoria. Both men kept journal records of their European travels which are reproduced in Te Ao Hou in 1958. The printing press “with its varied equipment” was used to print Te Hokioi o Nui Tireni e Rere atu na, the newspaper of the Māori King movement, which appeared in unnumbered isues from 1861-1863.
Next time someone tries to tell you Palestine (and Palestinians) never existed, remember these words spoken by Golda Meir, the only woman to have served as Prime Minister of Israel, from 1969-1974.
The state of Israel, on the other hand, didn’t exist until 1948.
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