During the activism years of the 1970s Pacific and Māori voices were given a platform through print.
Mana was a publication that highlighted societal issues while, at the same time, promoted identity and cultural values. During its short run – July 1977 to May 1978 – the paper relied on voluntary support and an editorial team to produce articles in te reo Māori as well as in Niuean, Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island languages. An exhibition currently running in the Dominion Museum in Auckland Tamaki Makauro tells the story of the paper and its people.
Mana – a supernatural force in a person, place or object – came from a long history of printed matter. Amongst them are about a dozen papers that are printed on barkcloth. One of these in the exhibition comes from Fiji and was printed in 1908. In Fiji masi (barkcloth) has considerable mana and imparted extra authority and prestige on the publication. In addition to that it is a beautiful item with a distinctive barkcloth texture and unusual fringed edging. Masi would have been fringed traditionally and, in keeping with that tradition and with that of producing announcements, proclamations, and important news on fringed silk or other textiles, this paper would have been very special indeed.
All of the printed editions of Mana can be read online at Papers Past here.