Stafford book blessed ahead of relaunch (+ video)

Rotorua dignitaries have gathered to celebrate one of Rotorua's most loved residents and launch a new edition of his book.

Te Arawa: A History of the Arawa People was officially
blessed tonight at a special function at the Rotorua Museum, attended by about 70 people.

The book is one of the most important to emerge from the city and was written by the late Don Stafford, Rotorua's official historian.

Among those at the launch were Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, Te Arawa representatives, the Stafford family, Professor Paora Tapsell who has written the foreword for the new edition and McLeods Booksellers representatives.

Mac Stafford speaks at the launch of a new edition of his late father's book Te Arawa: A History of the Arawa People at the Rotorua Museum tonight. Photo/Ben Fraser

The book tells the story of Te Arawa from the iwi's origins in the South Pacific until European contact.

Before its publication tomorrow, the book was blessed by Reverend Tom Poata and tributes were paid to the much-loved author, who died in 2010.

Mr Stafford has a wing of the Rotorua Museum named in his honour.

Professor Tapsell said nearly 50 years on from its first publication, Te Arawa remained as relevant as ever to descendants of the iwi and students of New Zealand history.

Professor Tapsell was a protege of Mr Stafford's when he was curator at Rotorua Museum in the early 1990s.

Mr Stafford (1927-2010) was fluent in te reo Maori and played a significant role in the preservation of historical sites and objects. He was made an MBE and CBE and received an honorary doctorate.